Alumna Recalls Historic Visit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Parkside

Published: January 8, 2025

Seemingly small decisions can lead to monumental outcomes, as alumna JoAnne Anderson '70 can enthusiastically attest. In 1967, students at the University of Wisconsin Kenosha Center-what would later become UW-Parkside-played a pivotal role in bringing one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to the campus.

As a member of the student government, Anderson was part of a meeting that took an unexpected turn when Professor Darrell Douglas, chair of the UW-Kenosha Lecture Concert committee, entered with an urgent request.

Douglas had received a fine arts grant from Madison's Central Administration Agency, with a rapidly approaching deadline to select a speaker or performer for a public event. Among the 31 names on the proposed list were luminaries like Linus Pauling, scientist and Nobel prize winner; Hal Holbrook, actor and writer; and Dr. King.

Anderson proposed that students vote to choose the speaker.

"I suggested we print the list as ballots and have the students vote for their choice, ensuring a majority voice in the selection," she said.

The result was decisive-Dr. King emerged as the overwhelming favorite.

The event took place on April 27, 1967, at St. Joseph's High School in Kenosha, drawing more than a thousand attendees, including students and community members. Dr. King's speech earned a standing ovation and led to an informal reception at the UW-Kenosha Center.

"I had the privilege of serving him refreshments in the student lounge," Anderson recalled.

Reflecting on her time at the campus, Anderson noted the profound sense of community - a hallmark at Parkside that continues to this day.

"The University of Wisconsin-Parkside, as it would later become, represented a positive and supportive learning environment, where students were encouraged and professors knew us by name, not just as numbers," she said. "It was a small campus, but the sense of community and camaraderie made a lasting impact on me."

Dr. King's visit remains a defining moment in UW-Parkside's history, symbolizing the university's long-standing commitment to fostering dialogue and engagement with the broader community.

For more on this historic moment, visit the Kenosha History Center's Facebook post.