The Honorable Dr. Hudson L. Barksdale, Sr., was Winthrop’s first African-American member of the Board of Trustees, named to the board in January 1981. He was appointed by the Education and Public Works Committee of the S.C. House of Representatives. The State newspaper reported at the time that “Rep. Eugene C. Stoddard, D-Laurens, committee chairman, said the appointment would be timely in view of criticism by the U.S. Education Department about lack of black representation on state governing boards.”
A native of Barksdale, Laurens County, S.C., Dr. Barksdale was a longtime educator and graduate of South Carolina State College and of Teachers College, Columbia University. He received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 1982 from Allen University. Residing in Spartanburg all of his adult life, Dr. Barksdale contributed much as an educator, a community leader, and legislator.
Dr. Barksdale was a Pacolet school principal, 25-year veteran of Spartanburg schools, and served in numerous statewide education leadership roles, including serving as a member of the State Council on Teacher Education and of the Board of Directors and the Legislative Committee of the South Carolina Education Association. He also served as president of the Palmetto Education Association and as president-elect of the American Teachers Association. He received many awards and accolades for his service.
A community leader, Dr. Barksdale was president of the Spartanburg Branch of the NAACP, recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts of America; a member of the Mayor's Committee on Youth Employment and on Human Relations; member of the Spartanburg County Mental Health Board; and member of the Governor's Tricentennial Commission.
Representing District #31, Spartanburg County, Dr. Barksdale served in the S.C. State Legislature from 1975-1982. Dr. Barksdale's Legislative work included Third and Second Vice-Chairman of the Education and Public Works Committee. He was the recipient of the State Democratic Party’s Distinguished Service Award in 1981 and of the Legislative Black Caucus Award in 1982 for distinguished and meritorious service to his district and the people of South Carolina. When Dr. Barksdale’s service as a legislator ended in 1982, so did his service as an appointed trustee of Winthrop.
