LDF Scholarships to Tennessee Students Aim at Desegregation, More Black Southern Lawyers

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PressRelease ft ie. aan oe 
JUN 301971 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

LDF SCHOLARSHIPS TO TENNESSEE 

STUDENTS AIM AT DESEGREGATION, 

MORE BLACK SOUTHERN LAWYERS 

NEW YORK, N.Y. --- Twelve Tennessee students received 

scholarship assistance from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 

Fund, Inc. (LDF) last year to attend formerly segregated, state- 

supported colleges and universities, or to study law. 

According to a report compiled by John W. Davis, former 

President of West Virginia State College, and Director of the 

LDF's educational program, more than 300 scholarships -- ranging 

in size from $400 to $2,160, with an average grant of $900 -- 

were awarded to Southern Negro students who were able to demonstrate 

both scholastic ability and a financial need. 

The Tennessee undergraduates under the LDF educational program 

include Margaret Ann Cox (E. Tenn. State U.) of Oak Ridge, Gloria 

J. Rodgers (Middle Tenn. State U.), and Barbara J. Scott (Middle 

Tenn. State U.) both of Chattanooga. 

Law students include Ural B. Adams, Jr. (Memphis State U.) of 

Memphis, Jimmie Baxter (U. of Tenn.) of Knoxville, Ronald Eugene 

Gardner (U. of Tenn.) of Nashville, Clinisson A. Johnson (U. of 

Tenn.) of Memphis, C. Eric Lincoln (U. of Tenn.) of Memphis, Elijah 

Noel, Jr. (U. of Pa.) of Memphis, Mrs. Merle A. Patterson (Memphis 

State U.) of Memphis, Cary C. Woods (U. of Tenn.) of Memphis, and 

A.C. Wharton (U. of Miss.) of Lebanon. 

Most of these students -- those who have not yet completed 

their educations -- will be eligible next term for similar 

(More) 

NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. | 10 Columbus Circle | New York, N.Y. 10019 | (212) 586-8397. 

ot William T. Coleman,.Jr. - President Jack Greenberg ~ Director-Counsel 

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LDF SCHOLARSHIPS PAGE TWO 

scholarships. In addition, LDF hopes to increase the number of 

scholarships available through its two-pronged educational 

program: the Herbert Lehman Education Fund and the Lawyer Training 

Program. 

The Herbert Lehman Education Fund was begun in 1964 by LDF 

when its litigation had brought about strict court rulings against 

state-financed, segregated higher education. Through the Lehman 

Fund, LDF provides incentives for black students to enter formerly 

all-white colleges and universities, at the same time providing 

incentives for the institutions -- usually in need of scholarship 

monies -- to accept them. There are currently 122 students under 

this program which has given 586 scholarships in its 7 years of 

Operation. Tennessee was only recently included under this 

program and a total of 9 Tennessee students have received Lehman 

grants. 

The Lawyer Training Program, on the other hand, was a spin 

off of the Lehman Fund to correct the critical shortage of black 

lawyers which has hampered LDF's efforts to reach out into many 

rural areas. 

According to LDF, black lawyers now comprise only about one 

per cent of the legal profession. The most hopeful estimates of 

the black lawyer/population ratios show one black lawyer for every 

21,230 black Americans. But in some rural sections of the country 

-- especially the South and Southwest -- it is feared that the 

disparity heightens to one black lawyer for every 37,000 black 

Americans. White Americans have no problems obtaining sympathetic 

legal assistance: the national average indicates one white lawyer 

for every 600 white Americans. 

In its first year of operation, the Lawyer Training Program 

assisted some 212 law students (including the 9 Tennessee students) 



LDF SCHOLARSHIPS PAGE THREE 

and will continue to provide them with scholarships until they 

complete their three years of law training. For the next school 

year (1971-72), an additional 300 3-year law scholarships will 

be made available. This process 

each year -- will continue until 

adding 1,500 blacks to the legal 

According to Dr. Davis, the 

provide scholarships to more and 

law, but will place many of them 

-- of adding 300 new scholarships 

the LDF's seven year goal of 

profession is met. 

Legal Defense Fund will not only 

more young men and women studying 

in summer jobs in its New York 

office and in offices of cooperating attorneys around the country, 

and, to those who show real promise, offer them a post-graduate 

year at the Fund's head office, then help them to set up practice 

in any area sorely in need of a black lawyer. 

The cost of the Lawyer Training Program for a seven-year 

period is expected to run well over $16,000,000. 

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For further information contact: 

NOTE: 

Dr. John W. Davis or 

Sandy O'Gorman 

(212) 586-8397 

Please bear in mind that the NAACP Legal Defense 

and Educational Fund, Inc. is a completely 

separate and distinct organization, even though 

we were established by the NAACP and retain those 

initials in our name. Our correct designation 

is NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., 
frequently shortened to LDF.