Benjamin F. Hilbun

Benjamin Franklin Hilbun (November 14, 1890 – December 13, 1963)^[1] was the President of the Mississippi State College during its name change to Mississippi State University from 1953–1960.^[2] Dr. Hilbun was a long time employee of Mississippi State having served on the faculty at MSU from 1925 until his retirement as President in 1960.^[3]

Hilbun supported the legal degradation of African-American citizens. As president of the university, Hilbun did not permit its athletic teams to play against teams with African-American players or participate in post-season tournaments that welcomed African-American players. While Mississippi State's basketball team qualified for the 1959 NCAA basketball tournament, Hilbun forbade the team from entering.^[4] Mississippi State University honored Hilbun by naming the Departments of Geosciences and Physics & Astronomy building Hilbun Hall.^[5][6]

References

1. Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817–1967. Univ. Press of Mississippi. 1981. ISBN 9781617034183.
2. "President's Office (Mississippi State University)". Archived from the original on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2013-06-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Mississippi State Can't Go To Tourney". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. March 1, 1959. p. 13.
5. "Hilbun Hall".
6. "Mississippi State University Interactive Map".

External links

• Mississippi State University General Information
• Mississippi State University Gallery of the Presidents

Academic offices
Preceded by Fred Tom Mitchell	President of Mississippi State University 1953–1960	Succeeded by Dean W. Colvard