Throughout the 2014-15 school year the Ohio Valley Conference will celebrate the stories of pioneers and leaders from each of our member institutions who paved and continue to pave the way for future generations of student-athletes and administrators. Check back here often as well as check out www.OVCSports.com/Diversity to learn more.
In 1960
Dennis Jackson became the first African-American varsity student-athlete at Murray State University where he was a halfback, receiver and safety for the football team and also competed on the Racers track and field squad.
For the track and field team he competed on the 4x400 meter relay team that was one of the best in the region including tying the OVC record in that event.
On the football field he was a mainstay in the defensive secondary, leading the Racers in interceptions in each 1962 (3), 1963 (5) and 1964 (4). During his senior season in 1964 he also led Murray State with 19 catches for 349 yards and five touchdowns.
One person who was influential for Jackson was Bill Furgerson, who was MSU’s head track and field coach and later became the head football coach.
“He was always there for me. If I needed something, he was there. He was more than a coach, he was a friend,” Jackson said. “He was a great guy and he saw people as people - nothing else.”
Following his graduation with a physical education degree in 1965, he would later earn a master’s degree in secondary education administration. In 1968 he was hired by the Paducah Public Schools as a health and physical education teacher in addition to being the football, basketball and track and field coach. He would go on to be the assistant principal and athletic director at Paducah Tilghman High and later as the Director of District Personnel for the Paducah Public Schools.
He received numerous honors and awards such as the Kentucky Colonel Award, Duke of Paducah and the Teacher of the Year for Paducah Middle School. Jackson also served on numerous organizations and boards, including the Murray State University Foundation, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, and the Western Kentucky Association of History and Social Studies Teachers. He retired in 2005.
Jackson also worked as an official for 25 years and worked 12 state boys and three state girls’ basketball championships.
Jackson was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Murray State Hall of Fame in 2007.