Simon Elfrink
Sports Editor
On Sunday, March 21, Murray State Athletics commemorated the new Racer Room in Dennis Jackson’s honor.
Jackson, the first Black student-athlete in Murray State history, is a 2007 Murray State Hall of Fame inductee, having played for Murray State’s track team and the football team from 1960-64.
“Murray State University: the sweetest name that I know,” Jackson said. “You know, it’s not a surprise to me to see Murray State excel in all kinds of areas. Not only athletically, but academically also, because of the people that represent Murray State University.”
Jackson took the student aspect of being a student-athlete to the extreme, earning not only his bachelor’s degree from Murray State but also his master’s, as well as a professional certificate for school administration, an endorsement for secondary school principal for grades 7-12 and an endorsement for school superintendent.
After his time on the track and the football field, Jackson passed on his knowledge by teaching health and physical education at Trigg County Junior High School for a year before taking his expertise to the Paducah Public Schools in 1968, where he taught the same subjects. In his time as a Paducah Public Schools affiliate, Jackson also taught history and served as a football, basketball and track coach. For a period of time, Jackson also served as assistant principal.
In light of Jackson’s living legacy, it was with great honor that Murray State Athletics held the ceremony to commemorate the new Racer Room in his honor. President Bob Jackson led with opening words in the ceremony, explaining to those gathered the importance of Dennis Jackson’s contribution to Murray State over the years.
“This day is overdue,” Jackson said. “I’m very glad that this Board of Regents and this president and this administration is to bestow this honor on Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson has dedicated his life to his family, his faith, assisting young people and serving public education. I’ve watched him do that for many years.”
Murray State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal thanked Dennis Jackson for being a trailblazer for student-athletes. Saal credited him for paving the way for the many Black student-athletes who have followed in his footsteps.
“Thank you for the pain and sacrifice that you endured establishing a pathway for thousands of student athletes who have followed in your footsteps,” Saal said.
President Jackson added his own words of thanks, reminding those gathered that while athletics aren’t the most focal point in a university’s characteristics, they are the collective “front porch” for many future students.
“It provides many students an education. It’s a tool to make a difference in a student’s life,” Jackson said. “Dennis, thank you for all that you do for this institution. Thank you for all you have done for this institution, [and] thank you for your quiet, humble servant leadership.
Dennis Jackson gave a lot of credit to his faith for his accolades and legacy on the field, sharing his personal experience in prayer and reliance on God to do what he needed to in order to make the difference he wanted to see in the world, athletically and academically. He continued to emphasize the importance of faith, leaving his gathered fans with encouraging words to seek God in their own lives.
“If you need some help in whatever you are doing, that’s what God is for,” Jackson said. “Things that we can’t solve, things we don’t have the answer to, he’s right there for us. He’s always put somebody in place for you to talk to.”
