USC Black Alumni AssociationTimeline

2018

Wanda Austin

First African-American President of USC (Interim)

Wanda Austin

2014

Verna Dauterive

Opening of Peter and Verna Dauterive Hall; First Interdisciplinary Building at USC

Verna Dauterive

2000

Crispus Attucks Wright

First African-American Multimillion Dollar Major Gift Donor to USC

1994

Maulana Karenga

Best Known as the Creator of the Pan-African and African-American Holiday of Kwanzaa; Ph.D Dornsife

Maulana Karenga

1983

Amy Trask

First Female CEO of the NFL, Oakland Raiders; USC Law School Graduate

1981

Samuel L. Williams

First African-American USC Trustee; 1961 Graduate of USC Law School

Stayce Harris

First African-American Female to Pilot a 747; First African-American Female Lt. General in the Air Force

1976

Rev. Thomas Kilgore

Establishment of USC Black Alumni Association; Scholarship Assistance Provided to Low-income Students, All Minorities (with Alumni Verna Dauterive, Peter Dauterive, Thomas Griffith, Sr., Portia Griffith)

Reverend Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr.

Aulanna Peters

First African-American Female SEC Commissioner

1968

Michael Garrett

First USC Heisman Trophy Winner

Michael Garrett

Cynthia Watson Arnold

First USC African-American Helen of Troy

Linda Murray Fuller

First USC African-American Song Girl

Linda Murray Fuller

1956

Adam Herbert

First African-American President, Indiana University; Graduate of School of Public Policy

Adam Herbert Jr.

Yvonne Braithewaite Burke

First African-American Congresswoman, California; Graduate of USC Law School

1949

Chester Carter

First African-American USC Student Senator

Chester Carter

1931

Edwin L. Jefferson

First African-American Justice for the California Second Appellate Court of Appeals; USC Law School Graduate

1927

Faye Jackson

First African-American Female Nationally Renowned Journalist

Faye Jackson

Helen Wheeler Riddle

First African-American Female USC Law School Graduate

Helen Wheeler Riddle

1925

Brice Union Taylor

First USC All-American in Trojan Football History

Brice Union Taylor

1919

Paul Revere Williams

First African-American Architect

1918

Vada Watson Somerville

First Female Graduate, USC School of Dentistry (Married to John Somerville)

Vada Watson Somerville

1914

Booker T. Washington

USC Address and Visit with President of USC (Fundraising Tour for Tuskegee Institute)

1913

Howard Porter Drew

“The Fastest Man in the World”; World Record Holder in Track and Field 100 Meter (Attended USC 1913-16)

Howard Porter Drew

1909

John A. Somerville

First African-American Graduate, USC School of Dentistry

John A. Somerville

Diana McNeil Pierson

BA in 1909; MS in 1910; At One Time Thought to Be the First Black Woman to Attend USC

Diana McNeil Pierson

1907

Joseph P. Widney

Former USC President Publishes “Race Life of the Aryan Peoples,” a Best-selling Book on “Scientific Racism”

1904

Clarence Bertrand Thompson

First African-American Law School Graduate

Clarence Bertrand Thompson

1894

Laura Gertrude Brown

Graduates with a Degree in Music; Her Degree is Conferred by USC President Joseph P. Widney

1880

USC Is Established