The first African-Americans to integrate ULM were Sarah McCoy (Abakwue) and Bobby Saucier in 1964, and the first to graduate was Donald Wayne Smith in 1967, but did you know there were efforts at integration all the way back in 1952? I found this interesting article in the Pittsburg (PA) Courier of February 9, 1952:
La. College Denies Youth Admission
MONROE, La. – Julius A. Faulk, a graduate of the Morehouse Parish Training School and former student at Grambling College, was denied admission to the Northeast Louisiana State College, here, last week, when he attempted to enroll, on the grounds that he is a Negro.
Faulk, accompanied by the Rev. W. S. P. Norris, reportedly presented himself for registration and was told by B. S. Hamner, registrar, and President Lewis T. Slater that the admission of a Negro to the institution would be a violation of the state laws.
After a little bit of research, I found that Mr. Faulk was co-valedictorian of his high school class in 1937. He became a pastor and elder in the CME churches of North Louisiana and passed away in 2012. I made him a memorial after I found his obituary in the Shreveport Times.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/260966584/julius-augusta-faulk
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 
Thank you for the work you do to bring these important pieces of our local history to light.
LikeLiked by 1 person