Laci Hawthorne
Contributing Writer
Murray State will honor Dennis Jackson, the first Black student-athlete at the University by naming the Dennis Jackson Racer Room in his honor.
The celebration will take place at 12:30 p.m., March 21 in the newly dedicated room. The event is estimated to finish just before Racer football hosts Tennessee State at 2 p.m. in Stewart Stadium and will be streamed live.
Murray State President Bob Jackson expressed his excitement for the ceremony honoring Dennis Jackson.
“We are very pleased to honor Mr. Dennis Jackson with the naming of the Racer Room,” Bob Jackson said. “Dennis is one of the all-time greats and it is only fitting to name this part of the Stewart Stadium in order to recognize his many achievements and lifetime of service to Murray State University.”
The naming of the room pays homage to Dennis Jackson’s career at Murray State (1961-64). An All-Ohio Valley Conference selection in 1964, Dennis Jackson held receiving records for Racer football his senior year. Dennis Jackson was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 2007.
The Dennis Jackson Racer Room is under renovation to ensure a “first-class” environment to support student-athlete development as well as host both game day and community hospitality events. The new room will also serve as an attraction for future recruits. It will be equipped with the latest audio/visual equipment and Murray State branding and sport-specific mannequins donning Nike gear, resourced via the department-wide apparel deal with Nike/BSN. The Dennis Jackson Racer Room will also include a nutrition/fueling station for current Racer student-athletes and a special area to honor Jackson’s life and contributions.
Kevin Saal, athletics director, shared Bob Jackson’s enthusiasm, not only in bringing this additional resource to Murray State student-athletes, but also in naming the room after a Racer legend.
“Providing first-class facilities, nutrition and hospitality resources are critical to developing our student-athletes, recruiting future Racers and building all of our programs the Racer way,” Saal said. “Dennis Jackson was the model student-athlete, creating a pathway for thousands who have come behind him. He’s dedicated his life to the development of young people through education in the classroom and athletics. He’s served Murray State University as an active alumnus and his community as a model leader and giver of his time. This naming opportunity continues to further our current and future student-athletes’ education in the many years to come. Through Dennis Jackson’s story, our student-athletes will see daily a defined pathway of tremendous success and impact, which started at Murray State University. We are incredibly blessed and excited to honor Dennis Jackson and tell his story in the years to come.”