Former FAMU President Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, Sr. was remembered as a mentor, recruiter, leader, visionary, and innovator whose legacy impacted not only Florida A&M and Tennessee State Universities, the two universities he led for 26 years, but HBCUs all across American whom he fought every day for to secure a brighter future for generations of students.
Humphries, served as president of FAMU from 1985 to 2001, and president of Tennessee State University from 1974 to 1985, died June 24 in Orlando. He was 85.
On Saturday afternoon, several hundred gathered in the Al Lawson Center at FAMU, while many more watched on TV20 and through the various FAMU streaming platforms to say their final good byes to a leader who was described as “bigger than life”.
There were letters of tribute from US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
TSU President Glenda Baskin Glover, Ph.D., likened Humphries like a tree planted by the waters. “He was like a fruit tree,” she said. “He was always producing good fruit in season.”
Former FAMU President James Ammons, Ph.D., spoke about Humphries’ impact on his career and on the University.
TSU President Glenda Baskin Glover, Ph.D., likened Humphries like a tree planted by the waters. “He was like a fruit tree,” she said. “He was always producing good fruit in season.”
Former FAMU President James Ammons, Ph.D., spoke about Humphries’ impact on his career and on the University.
“FAMU educated me, but Dr. Humphries prepared me for my life’s work,” said Ammons, who was promoted to provost under Humphries’ tenure and later served as the 10th president of FAMU from 2007 to 2012. Ammons, chancellor of Southern University of New Orleans, recalled how at the start of Dr. Humphries’ tenure the Lee Hall administration building was boarded up, dormitories were shuttered, enrollment was around 5,500 and declining and the University’s prospects seemed dim.
Dr. Humphries more than doubled enrollment while simultaneously raising academic standards. He increased the number of National Achievement Scholars at the school ranking first in the nation three times, out recruiting Harvard and Stanford. He made FAMU the nation’s number one producer of African Americans with baccalaureate degrees and third in the nation as the baccalaureate institution of origin for African-American doctoral degree recipients. Over 42 new programs were implemented between 1985 and 2001.
His crowning achievement was FAMU’s selection as the first-TIME Magazine/Princeton Review “College of the Year” in 1997.
“He transformed this University. It’s my hope we recognize the impact of what happened under Humphries’ leadership,” Ammons said. “Consciousness was raised about the significance of HBCUs. He believed we had greatness in us.
“We had greatness on the ‘Highest of Seven Hills.’ He cracked the code, and in doing so, he built platforms and programs to elevate the status of African Americans and HBCUs. He lived a life that mattered.
Humphries reach and impact on both Tennessee State and FAMU was so significant that both universities have campus buildings named for him. TSU has the Frederick S. Humphries Hall and FAMU has the F.S. Humphries Science Research Center.