James Hood was one of the first two
African Americans to enroll at the
University of Alabama in
1963 and was made famous when
Alabama Governor
George Wallace tried to block them from entering, triggering a showdown with federal troops. He was catapulted into the national spotlight on June 11, 1963, when, accompanied by federal marshals and the assistant U.S.
Attorney General Nicholas deB. Katzenbach, he attempted to register for classes at the all-white university. He was barred from doing so when Alabama Governor George Wallace made his famous "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" in an attempt to prevent racial integration of Alabama schools. Ultimately, Wallace stood aside and Mr. Hood, along with
Vivian Malone, was allowed to enroll. Hood left the university after only two months but returned in
1995 to earn his doctorate degree. On
May 17,
1997 he received his Ph.D.
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