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S. C. R. No. 521 *SS08/R774* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Blount, DuPree,
Mumford, Simmons (12th), Thomas
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 521
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SINCEREST 1
CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO DR. JOHN A. 2
PEOPLES, JR., PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, AND 3
THE OLDEST LIVING HBCU PRESIDENT. 4
WHEREAS, we celebrate Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., President 5
Emeritus of Jackson State University (JSU), an extraordinary 6
leader who has set the gold standard for university presidents; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., the visionary former 9
President of Jackson State University from 1967-1984, is a 10
legendary figure in the HBCU world, cited for his transformative 11
leadership, and celebrated for his longevity, nearing 100 years 12
old in 2026; and 13
WHEREAS, he is believed to be the oldest living HBCU 14
president, and is celebrated for his enduring impact at Jackson 15
State University, marked by significant institutional growth; and 16
WHEREAS, during Dr. Peoples' tenure as President of JSU from 17
1967-1984, he naturally had many legacy highlights. 18
S. C. R. No. 521 *SS08/R774* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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● Spearheaded JSU's transition from college to university 19
status; 20
● Expanded academic programs to doctoral levels; 21
● Improved enrollment and infrastructure; 22
● Oversaw massive, nearly quadruple growth in student 23
numbers and the construction of new buildings; 24
● Contributed to academic expansion; 25
● Established key schools (Business, Education, Science and 26
Tech); 27
● Elevated faculty degrees; 28
● Authored To Survive and Thrive and How We Got Over and 29
other works; and 30
● Received prestigious honors and accolades, including 31
induction into the National Black College Hall of Fame; and 32
WHEREAS, Dr. Peoples' tenure at Jackson State was during a 33
pivotal era, establishing standards of excellence that continue to 34
resonate, making him a beloved figure and a benchmark for HBCU 35
leadership. His approaching centennial birthday in 2026 further 36
underscores his remarkable presidency and continued presence; and 37
WHEREAS, Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., the sixth President of the 38
institution, was the founder of the Army Reserve Officer Training 39
Corp (ROTC) unit at Jackson State University. He is a native of 40
Starkville, Mississippi, where he attended elementary and 41
secondary schools. After graduating from high school, he was 42
drafted into the United States Marine Corps and was Honor Man in 43
S. C. R. No. 521 *SS08/R774* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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his recruit training platoon and a sharpshooter rifleman. He was 44
number one in his noncommissioned officers class and spent over 45
two years in the United States Marine Corps attaining the rank of 46
Sergeant. He served as a Drill Instructor at Montfort Point, the 47
recruit training camp for Black Marines at Camp Lejeune, North 48
Carolina, during World War II. He also attended Radio Technicians 49
class at the Tracked Vehicle Battalion, Camp Pendleton, 50
California, where he subsequently served as a radio technician; 51
and 52
WHEREAS, in July 2012, Dr. Peoples was awarded the 53
Congressional Gold Medal, as one of the African American Marines 54
of World War II who was trained at the segregated Montford Point 55
Camp; and 56
WHEREAS, after his discharge from the Marine Corps, Dr. 57
Peoples entered Jackson State University in September 1947 where 58
he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics. While attending 59
Jackson State University, he was on the varsity football and track 60
teams and was elected president of the Student Government 61
Association for two consecutive years. After graduating number 62
one in his class in 1950, he attended the University of Chicago, 63
where he earned Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees; 64
and 65
WHEREAS, after serving 13 years in the public school system 66
of Gary, Indiana, as a teacher and school principal, Dr. Peoples 67
was employed at Jackson State University as a Professor of 68
S. C. R. No. 521 *SS08/R774* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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Mathematics and Vice President in 1964. He was elected President 69
of Jackson State University in 1967; and 70
WHEREAS, in 1974, the landmark Ayers v. Waller desegregation 71
suit was filed in Mississippi. As President of Jackson State 72
University, Dr. Peoples played a strategic role in support of the 73
plaintiff's efforts against the State College Board to eliminate 74
the dual system of higher education; and 75
WHEREAS, Dr. Peoples has been active in the academic world, 76
serving on the boards and commissions of virtually all of the 77
major national and southern regional associations. He was one of 78
the pioneers in the establishment of the National Association for 79
Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) in the early seventies and was the first 80
African American to serve as Chairman of the Board of the American 81
Council on Education; and 82
WHEREAS, the Jackson State University Athletic Program, under 83
the presidency of Dr. Peoples, produced six Southwestern Athletic 84
Conference (SWAC) championships in football, seven in baseball, 13 85
in men's track, five in women's track, and six in men's 86
basketball; and 87
WHEREAS, Dr. Peoples is active in community and civic 88
affairs. He has served 10 years as a commissioner on the Jackson 89
Airport Authority, four years on the Board of Directors of the 90
Jackson Zoological Park and six years on the Board of Directors of 91
Goodwill Industries. He served twenty–five years on the Board of 92
Directors of The Piney Woods Country Life School, 20 years on the 93
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Board of Directors of Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center, 94
and seven years on the Civil Service Commission for the City of 95
Jackson, Mississippi, two years of which he was Chairman. He 96
served on the Board of Directors of Jackson Hinds Comprehensive 97
Health Center, the Board of Directors of The Jackson State 98
University National Alumni Association, and the executive 99
committee of the Governor's Commission to Establish a National 100
Civil Rights Museum in Mississippi. He has served on the Board of 101
Directors Mississippi Ballet International, the Andrew Jackson 102
Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and as Chairman of the 103
National Blue Ribbon Advisory Commission to the 11th President of 104
Jackson State University, Dr. Ronald Mason, Jr; and 105
WHEREAS, Dr. Peoples is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 106
Inc., and Sigma Pi Phi Boule Fraternity. He is a 33rd Degree 107
Mason and a life member of the National Association for the 108
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Mississippi Conference 109
of the NAACP conferred on him the Medgar Evers Award in 1983. He 110
has been elected to the Jackson State University Sports Hall of 111
Fame, the Jackson State University Hall of Fame, and the 112
Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. In 1993, the 113
National Black College Hall of Fame conferred on Dr. Peoples, the 114
National Black College Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. 115
He was also given the Distinguished Alumni award by the National 116
Association for Equal Opportunity (NAFEO) in 1993. In 2009, he 117
S. C. R. No. 521 *SS08/R774* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Extend congratulations of Legislature to
Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., President Emeritus of
JSU and oldest living HBCU President.
was a recipient of the Mississippi Medal of Service from Governor 118
Haley Reeves Barbour; and 119
WHEREAS, Dr. Peoples is married to the former Mary E. 120
Galloway. They are the parents of Dr. Kathleen Peoples, Ph.D., a 121
United States Department Embassy Administrator, and Mark A. 122
Peoples, Esq.; and 123
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize an 124
extraordinary leader whose unwavering commitment to putting 125
students first has left an indelible mark on JSU and continues to 126
inspire us all: 127
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 128
MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 129
we do hereby extend the sincerest congratulations of the 130
Mississippi Legislature to Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., President 131
Emeritus of Jackson State University, who is believed to be the 132
oldest living HBCU President as he nears his 100th birthday, and 133
celebrate his legacy of excellence, dedication and passion for 134
education which will forever be a guiding light for our state and 135
community. 136
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 137
Dr. John A. Peoples, Jr., and his family and transmitted to the 138
Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and 139
made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 140