Alumna Recalls Historic Visit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Parkside

Seemingly small decisions can lead to monumental outcomes, as alumna JoAnne Anderson ’70 can enthusiastically attest. In 1967, students at the University of Wisconsin Kenosha Center—what would later become UW-Parkside—played a pivotal role in bringing one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to the campus.

As a member of the student government, Anderson was part of a meeting that took an unexpected turn when Professor Darrell Douglas, chair of the UW-Kenosha Lecture Concert committee, entered with an urgent request.

Douglas had received a fine arts grant from Madison's Central Administration Agency, with a rapidly approaching deadline to select a speaker or performer for a public event. Among the 31 names on the proposed list were luminaries like Linus Pauling, scientist and Nobel prize winner; Hal Holbrook, actor and writer; and Dr. King.

Anderson proposed that students vote to choose the speaker.

“I suggested we print the list as ballots and have the students vote for their choice, ensuring a majority voice in the selection,” she said.

The result was decisive—Dr. King emerged as the overwhelming favorite.

The event took place on April 27, 1967, at St. Joseph’s High School in Kenosha, drawing more than a thousand attendees, including students and community members. Dr. King’s speech earned a standing ovation and led to an informal reception at the UW-Kenosha Center.

“I had the privilege of serving him refreshments in the student lounge,” Anderson recalled.

Reflecting on her time at the campus, Anderson noted the profound sense of community – a hallmark at Parkside that continues to this day.

“The University of Wisconsin-Parkside, as it would later become, represented a positive and supportive learning environment, where students were encouraged and professors knew us by name, not just as numbers,” she said. “It was a small campus, but the sense of community and camaraderie made a lasting impact on me.”

Dr. King’s visit remains a defining moment in UW-Parkside’s history, symbolizing the university’s long-standing commitment to fostering dialogue and engagement with the broader community.

For more on this historic moment, visit the Kenosha History Center’s Facebook post.