Perry Wallace

Vanderbilt’s 2020 celebration of Black History Month included lectures, off-campus trips, community events and more to celebrate and reflect on the history, impact and contributions of African Americans throughout the country’s history and at the university. Read More

More than 200 people gathered in front of Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gym Feb. 22 for the dedication of Perry Wallace Way, the portion of 25th Avenue South recently named in honor of Vanderbilt trailblazer and Nashville native Perry Wallace, the first African American to play varsity basketball in the Southeastern Conference. Read More

Photo by Trey Clark For Jessie Wallace Jackson, the trailblazing experience of her brother Perry Wallace, BE’71, is a story of love and hope for the future. A recent Memphis Vanderbilt Chapter Commodore Classroom expanded his inspiring message. On Dec. 9, more than 60 alumni and friends gathered at the… Read More

Vanderbilt will host a screening of the documentary film "Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace" on Thursday, Dec. 12, in Sarratt Cinema. The event is free and open to the public, and free popcorn, soft drinks and hot chocolate will be provided. Read More

The portion of 25th Avenue South in front of Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium will be ceremonially renamed “Perry Wallace Way” in memory of the trailblazing Vanderbilt student-athlete who integrated SEC varsity basketball in 1967. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos announced today the second series of portraits honoring five Vanderbilt trailblazers. Zeppos has commissioned paintings of Dorothy Wingfield Phillips, K.C. Potter, David Williams II, Kate Lupton and Muhammad Yunus. Read More

Alan Hicks, BA’66, left, speaks with Strong Inside author Andrew Maraniss, BA’92, at the San Francisco Commodore Classroom event. The New York Times best-selling book Strong Inside shares the trailblazing Vanderbilt experience of Perry Wallace, BE’70. The story has resonated with alumni everywhere, and Commodore Classrooms events have provided… Read More

David Williams II was remembered as a courageous vice chancellor, outstanding athletics director, brilliant law professor and devoted husband and father during a celebration of life service Feb. 15. Read More

"Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace," the documentary that tells the story of the first African American varsity basketball player in the SEC, is now available for educational screenings. Read More

Men's basketball's Joe Toye, an economics major and the lone senior on the Commodores’ roster, is the embodiment of student-athlete-leader. Read More

As 70-year-old Williams nears the end of a 15-year run leading Vanderbilt athletics—and his 27th year as a senior administrator in higher education—he is ready to hand over leadership of a department that has made enormous strides during his tenure. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will host a screening of "Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace" on Thursday, Dec. 6, in Memorial Gym. The event is free and open to faculty, staff and students as well as their friends and family. Read More

We must ensure that the artwork displayed at Vanderbilt celebrates role models that inspire all members of our rich mosaic, writes Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos in this week's column. Read More

Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos unveiled four portraits on Saturday that are part of a new “Vanderbilt Trailblazers” series to honor members of the Vanderbilt community who broke barriers at the university and in society at large. Read More

The Rev. Beverly A. Asbury, who worked tirelessly as Vanderbilt's first chaplain to eliminate racial- and religious-based hatred and to promote inclusion and respect for others, has died. Read More

Civil rights trailblazer Perry Wallace, BE’70, who became the first-ever African American varsity basketball player in the Southeastern Conference when he suited up for Vanderbilt in 1967, has been honored with a new scholarship at the university. Read More

Vanderbilt celebrated the inclusion of "Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace" in this year’s Nashville Film Festival at an event May 12 at the historic Woolworth on 5th restaurant—a key site in Nashville’s and the nation’s civil rights history. Read More

“Triumph: The Untold Story of Perry Wallace” will be featured at this year’s Nashville Film Festival Friday, May 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 12, at 3:15 p.m. Read More

The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution honoring the memory of Vanderbilt alumnus Perry Wallace on April 11. Wallace, who grew up in North Nashville, integrated Vanderbilt varsity basketball in 1966 and made history on Dec. 2, 1967, as the first African American basketball player to compete in a varsity game in the Southeastern Conference. Read More

The Horvitz YouthAbility program, a Cleveland organization that serves disabled and at-risk youth, has made a donation to the Perry E. Wallace Basketball Scholarship after its members read Wallace's biography and visited Nashville to walk in his footsteps. Read More