James Meredith - Civil Rights icon

James Meredith is an Air Force veteran, American civil rights icon and author. Meredith was the first African-American to gain entrance into the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1962. Meredith endured riots, death threats, taunts and opposition from the Governor of Mississippi, Ross Barrnett.

The federal government sent US Marshals and eventually the National Guard to force the issue. In October 1962 two men were killed and numerous Marshals and Guardsmen were injured when the rioting got out of hand. Meredith persisted and graduated from Ole Miss on August 18, 1963 with a political science degree.