Herrick Black Young 1953-1969

Herrick Young was President of Western from 1953-1969. Born in Wisconsin in 1904, he was educated at the Indiana University (AB) and Columbia University (MA). Having been executive secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions for 15 years, he had traveled extensively and established connections in many other countries. At the time he was elected the new president of Western, Young was executive director of International House Association. The group had international houses in 33 countries, every one of which he had visited. President Young made many significant decisions while at Western, one of which brought international attention to the college. He allowed the Civil Rights workers to train on the Western campus in the summer of 1964 before going to Mississippi to register African American voters. Three of the first men to train at Western that summer entered Mississippi and were murdered. President Young reinstated the overseas seminars and brought many foreign students to Western. Thomson Hall opened while President Young was at Western.