Dr. Richard E. Holmes, Mississippi State’s first African American student who enrolled in 1965 and became an honored and beloved university alumnus and mentor, passed away Oct. 16 at 82. When Holmes first enrolled at MSU, rather than being met with animosity and hate, his acceptance was rather peaceful and calm just three years after James Meredith’s forced entry to the University of Mississippi. His MSU enrollment, acceptance and academic journey was a historic milestone and a key component in the Civil Rights Movement’s push to integration. View a gallery of Dr. Holmes and his impact on the university.