Published: October 03, 2008 07:53 pm      

Three legacies honored at ‘Founder’s Day’

BEREA — Berea College President Larry Shinn shared the stories Thursday of three Berea College graduates whose life was a reflection of John G. Fee’s vision.

The life of Fee, Berea College’s founder, was grounded in a God of impartial love, Shinn said at the beginning of Thursday’s ninth-annual Founder’s Day Convocation.

The three men honored during Berea College’s ninth annual Founder’s Day Convocation that included Berea College graduates John H. Jackson (class of 1874), James S. Hathaway (class of 1884) and Green P. Russell (class of 1897). All three also served as president of Kentucky State University during their career.

Jackson was born in Lexington in 1850 and came to Berea (College) when he was 16. At that time, the school offered classes for kindergarten through 12th grade, and four years of college.

He is the first recorded black person to have ever graduate from Berea College and later became the first president of the Kentucky Negro Education Association.

Hathaway was born in Mt. Sterling in 1859 and became a Berea City Clerk after graduating Berea College.

Russell came to Berea College in 1880 and always said that one of his highlights of coming to Berea was being baptized by Fee, Shinn said.

In 1894, he was the supervising principal of all black schools in Lexington.

Onaje Jackson, the great-grand nephew of John H. Jackson, spoke to the audience Thursday and showed a chart depicting his lineage tracing back to John H. Jackson.

“It’s an honor to represent the entire Jackson family here today,” he said.

He highlighted other members of the Jackson family sitting in the audience.

“These men (Jackson, Hathaway and Russell) represent the enduring legacy of education against all odds,” Jackson said. “I would not have felt secure enough to go to Yale and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) if it had not have been for my background.”

Jackson was given the John G. Fee award along with Kentucky State University President Mary Evans Sias.

“Berea College and Kentucky State University are uniquely connected,” Sias said. “We provide access to opportunity, and we believe everyone has opportunity to succeed if given the chance. Berea College and KSU are living proof that if you believe in the value of dreams, those dreams can be fulfilled.”

Honoring the lives of Jackson, Hathaway and Russell was very appropriate considering that the three men improved the infrastructure of Kentucky State University, that now has 2,600 students enrolled and more than 500 faculty members and staff, she said.

“Their stories are great stories,” Sias said. “Their stories connect us through blood, heritage, hope and vision.”

Thursday’s musical entertainment was provided by the Kentucky State University Concert Choir and Berea College’s Black Music Ensemble.



Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.