University of Louisville Magazine

Winter- Spring 2016

The University of Louisville Alumni Magazine: for alumni, faculty, staff, students and anyone that is a UofL Cardinal fan.

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6 2 | L O U I S V I L L E . E D U Alumni Profi le Alum recalls UofL, Louisville Municipal College merger during integration James Hansford had only six credit hours left to f nish his college career at Louisville Municipal College when the school merged with the University of Louisville in 1951. After completing coursework in subjects including sociology, psychology, philosophy, economics and geography, Hansford was one of the f rst African-American graduates of UofL after integration, when he earned his degree in January 1952. Sixty-four years later, Hansford, 85, recalled his days at UofL and Louisville Municipal with pride, but says he never thought about the impact made when he and three other Louisville Municipal Students joined their graduating class. "Who worried about making history?" he asked. "I was worried about graduating and getting a job." Hansford grew up in Louisville and majored in history with a concentration in social studies and secondary education at Louisville Municipal College. He planned to become a teacher, a career path open to African-Americans during that era. "There were very few things a black man could do at the time," he said. "I took that into consideration. I would have majored in business, but that was not within view." His senior year, Louisville Municipal and UofL merged and Hansford found himself on a new campus enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. Hansford remembers former UofL President John W. Taylor inviting two white UofL students to show Hansford and his lifelong friend, Harold Kenneth Smith, around campus to introduce them to UofL. "I thought it was large compared to Municipal College," he said. "The atmosphere was cool." Hansford and Smith navigated their new school together. Fraternity brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, the pair made sure the chapter established at Louisville Municipal carried over at UofL. Hansford remembers former Dean Hilda Threlkeld helping the pair f nd a meeting room on campus for the fraternity. Hansford's experience during the full integration of UofL went smoothly, he said. He felt welcomed and comfortable, especially with other Louisville Municipal students on campus. "I don't remember there ever being an incident," he said. He does remember, however, his graduation day. His family was elated, as were the students, including his three fellow Louisville Municipal alums, Smith, Harvenia Green and Howard Reed. "It was a sunny, beautiful day on the front lawn [the Oval]," he recalled. Hansford went on to become a teacher before being drafted into the Army. When he returned to Louisville after his stint in the military, he joined the U.S. Postal Service, where he worked for 33 years until his retirement. He married and had one daughter, who, along with his wife, has since passed away. Hansford remains in Louisville and remains modest about the role his class played in UofL history. Hansford was one of the fi rst African-American graduates of UofL after integration Hansford recently refl ected on his fi rst days at UofL. Hansford, fourth from left standing, was a member of the College Choir in 1951.* Hansford, fi rst on left standing, was Alpha Pi Chapter President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, in 1951.* *Image source: ULUA Thoroughbred, 1951, University of Louisville Archives and Records Center, Louisville, Kentucky.

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