Obituaries in the news: John L. Blackburn
Associated Press National Wire – July 7
John L. Blackburn, a University of Alabama administrator credited with bringing groups together to desegregate the school in 1963, died Friday. He was 84. Blackburn died after complications from cancer, university spokeswoman Cathy Andreen said Monday. Family friend and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Blackburn was “a giant in the lives of many.” Blackburn became the assistant dean of men in 1956 and went on to serve as dean of men, dean for student development and vice president for educational development. He is credited with playing a central role in the school’s desegregation by working with student leaders, faculty and fellow administrators to assure the enrollment of Vivian Malone and James Hood on June 11, 1963. The University of Alabama established the Blackburn Institute in his honor in 1995 and the leadership development program links state leaders in business and public service with outstanding UA students and Blackburn fellows. Rice said Blackburn was one of her father’s closest friends and mentors.
Opinion: Dean John L. Blackburn was an inspiration
Tuscaloosa News – July 7
Former University of Alabama historian Culpepper Clark hit the nail on the head when he said that John L. Blackburn, who died Friday at the age of 84, will be remembered as one of the ‘iconic’ figures of the 20th century at the Capstone…But that moment in history was not nearly as important as Blackburn’s mentoring of generations of students, leadership he showed in a variety of roles in the UA administration, and his tireless devotion to what he saw as his civic duty both on campus and in the wider community. The Blackburn Institute, which was established in 1995 in his honor and to carry on his work, will ensure that his name will never be forgotten at the university… ‘Dr. Blackburn was a highly respected educator who helped lead the University of Alabama through some of its most challenging and important times,’ UA President Robert Witt said. ‘While he will be greatly missed, we are pleased that his legacy will live on through the Blackburn Institute.’…A measure of just how influential Blackburn was, even as he preferred to stay behind the scenes, can be found in the list of pallbearers for his burial in Evergreen Cemetery at 2 p.m. this afternoon. Among them are a former United States Senator, Donald Stewart, UA Chancellor Malcolm Portera and three former presidents of the university, Joab Thomas, Roger Sayers and David Mathews, a former secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and now the president of the Kettering Foundation. We are certain they, and many, many others will tell you Dean Blackburn was a major inspiration.
UA Mourns Loss of Dr. John L. Blackburn
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – July 6
Today, The University of Alabama remembered an influential administrator who died Friday. Dr. John Blackburn was 84. While dean of men, he helped usher the University through desegregation when Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood registered as students in 1963.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – July 6
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – July 6