Richard Holmes, the first Black student at MSU, dies at 82  (index.html)  (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/richard-holmes-first-black-student-msu-dies-82/?outputType=amp)                               (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon.ico@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-16x16.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-32x32.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (../../../../../webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/favicon-48x48.png@d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-167x167.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gray/arc-fusion-assets/images/favicons/wtva/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?d=598&mxId=00000000)    (../../../../pf/dist/components/output-types/default.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/dist/components/combinations/default.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/__global/css/style.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../pf/resources/dist/wtva/css/main.css@d=598&mxId=00000000.css)  (../../../../../cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.7.2/css/all.min.css)     (index.html#main) Skip to content (https://www.wtva.com/)        (https://www.wtva.com/)     (https://www.wtva.com/livestream) Watch Live  (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/news) Videos  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us              (https://www.wtva.com/homepage) Homepage   (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live   (https://www.wtva.com/news) News   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/local/) Local   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/mississippi) Mississippi   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/alabama/) Alabama   (https://www.wtva.com/content/news/national/) National      (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts) Alerts   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/radar) Radar   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/maproom) Forecast Maps   (https://www.wtva.com/page/list-of-local-storm-shelters/) Storm Shelters   (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content/) Submit Weather Pictures/Videos   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/closings) Closings   (https://weathercallservices.com/wtva-nexgen) WeatherCall   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/cams) Cameras   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/junior-weather-authority) Junior Weather Authority   (https://www.wtva.com/weather/elijah-experiments) Elijah Experiments      (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/high-school/) High School   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/friday-night-fever) Friday Night Fever   (https://www.wtva.com/sports/scoreboard/) Friday Night Fever Scores   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/college) College   (https://www.wtva.com/content/sports/national) National   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/05/14/wtva-air-several-atlanta-braves-games-throughout-regular-season/) Atlanta Braves on WTVA      (https://www.wtva.com/page/download-our-apps/) Download WTVA Apps   (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts   (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wtva/browse) Obituaries   (https://www.wtva.com/community) Community   (https://www.wtva.com/community/senior-fair) Senior Health Fair   (https://www.wtva.com/community/studio-9) Studio 9 with Tanya Carter   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/06/04/tickets-2026-tupelo-st-jude-dream-home-giveaway-go-sale-june-25/) Tupelo St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway   (https://www.wtva.com/video-gallery/community/johnny-stars) Johnny D. Talks to the Stars   (https://www.wtva.com/community/made-in-mississippi-americas-music) Mississippi Made: America’s Music   (https://www.wtva.com/community/ask-the-experts) Ask the Experts   (https://www.wtva.com/community/medical-minute) Medical Minute   (https://www.wtva.com/community/legally-speaking) Legally Speaking   (https://www.wtva.com/community/calendar) Community Calendar      (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios   (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise with WTVA   (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Job Openings   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-noon-show-studio-9-interview-request/) Schedule Noon/Studio 9 Interview   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-station-tours) Station Tours   (https://www.wtva.com/page/wtva-accepting-news-weather-and-sports-internships) Internships   (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History      (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule   (https://www.wtva.com/page/nextgen) NextGen TV   (https://www.wtva.com/powernation) Powernation   (https://www.investigatetv.com/) InvestigateTV   (https://www.aginguntold.com/) Aging Untold   (https://www.wtva.com/watching-your-wallet) Watching Your Wallet   (https://www.localnewslive.com/news/national/) Local News Live   (https://graymedia.com/assets/pdf/Gray_AI_Policy.pdf) Gray AI Policy    (https://www.facebook.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.x.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.instagram.com/wtva9news)   (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGZ3rWmXAfs4iZi-Hr2Ahgg)   (https://www.tiktok.com/@wtva9news)      (https://www.wtva.com/weather/alerts/) 2 weather alerts in effect                 Richard Holmes, the first Black student at MSU, dies at 82        Mississippi State University announced the death of Richard Holmes, the institution’s first African American student.    By (https://www.wtva.com/authors/zac-carlisle/) Zac Carlisle    Published: Oct. 16, 2026 at 1:48 PM EDT | Updated: 4 hours ago     Share     (https://google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.wtva.com)  Add Us On Google Add as a preferred source on Google      STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) — Mississippi State University announced the death of Richard Holmes, the institution’s first African American student.  The 82-year-old died Friday.  The Starkville native enrolled at the university on July 19, 1965, during the Civil Rights Era. “I did not come here for fanfare or publicity,” Holmes said in a letter to administrators and read to members of the press on July 19, 1965, “As a lifelong Mississippian, I am here to study and learn at a high-rated Mississippi University, which happens to be in my hometown.”    “There were no catcalls, no racial slurs,” he later recalled during a university speech. “It was quiet and serene. Nothing happened; there was just curiosity and disbelief.” He graduated from MSU with two degrees. He later earned a medical degree from Michigan State University.  (https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/10/beloved-alumnus-and-legend-dr-richard-e-holmes-first-msu-african-american) (https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/10/beloved-alumnus-and-legend-dr-richard-e-holmes-first-msu-african-american) Open this link to read the university’s announcement.   Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.            Most Read   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/elderly-man-killed-home-invasion/) (The incident happened at a home on County Road 176 in Union County, Mississippi.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/elderly-man-killed-home-invasion/)   Elderly man killed in home invasion       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/1-teen-dead-1-teen-arrested-homicide/) (Jaquarious Brooks and Landyn Brooks were arrested in connection with the investigation into...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/1-teen-dead-1-teen-arrested-homicide/)   1 teen dead, 2 teens arrested in homicide       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/some-sus-s-going-what-nolan-wells-friends-said-texts-after-he-mysteriously-disappeared/) (Nolan Wells went to Horn Island in Mississippi with friends to celebrate the July 4 holiday...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/some-sus-s-going-what-nolan-wells-friends-said-texts-after-he-mysteriously-disappeared/)   ’Some sus s--- going on’: What Nolan Wells’ friends said in texts after he mysteriously disappeared       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-releases-letter-grades-schools-districts/) (Mississippi education graphic)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-releases-letter-grades-schools-districts/) Mississippi releases letter grades for schools and districts       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/2nd-person-dies-several-weeks-after-crash/) (Wreck (File Image))      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/2nd-person-dies-several-weeks-after-crash/) 2nd person dies several weeks after crash       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/wwe-coming-ole-miss/) (Road to Survivor Series War Games is scheduled for Nov. 20 in The Pavilion basketball arena.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/wwe-coming-ole-miss/) WWE coming to Ole Miss       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/police-responding-reports-active-shooter-oregon-elementary-school/) (Police tape is placed outside Silver Rail Elementary school, where a shooting took place, on...)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/police-responding-reports-active-shooter-oregon-elementary-school/)   5 killed, including 3 children, in shooting at Oregon elementary school, officials say       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-lottery-players-win-more-than-14-million/) (Mississippi Lottery Corporation)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/15/mississippi-lottery-players-win-more-than-14-million/) Mississippi lottery players win more than $1.4 million         Latest News   (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/man-custody-after-117-mph-chase-i-65-shelby-county/) (Pelham Police)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/man-custody-after-117-mph-chase-i-65-shelby-county/)   Man in custody after 117 mph chase on I-65 in Shelby County       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/richard-holmes-first-black-student-msu-dies-82/) (Mississippi State University announced the death of Richard Holmes, the institution’s first...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/richard-holmes-first-black-student-msu-dies-82/) Richard Holmes, the first Black student at MSU, dies at 82       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/3-men-arrested-child-sex-crimes/) (Baldwyn police made the announcement on Friday afternoon and said the arrests stemmed from...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/3-men-arrested-child-sex-crimes/) 3 men arrested on child sex crimes       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/interview-tupelo-sorority-chapter-plans-two-events-families-girls/) (The Tupelo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting two community events...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/interview-tupelo-sorority-chapter-plans-two-events-families-girls/) Interview: Tupelo sorority chapter plans two events for families and girls       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/interview-tupelo-childrens-mansion-seeks-churches-host-mansion-sunday/) (Tupelo Children's Mansion is asking area churches to host a Mansion Sunday service to raise...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/interview-tupelo-childrens-mansion-seeks-churches-host-mansion-sunday/) Interview: Tupelo Children's Mansion seeks churches to host Mansion Sunday       (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/pet-week-oliver/) (Oliver is WTVA's Pet of the Week for Oct. 16, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/2026/10/16/pet-week-oliver/)   Pet of the Week - Oliver       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/pet-week-oliver/) (Oliver is WTVA's Pet of the Week for Oct. 16, 2026.)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/pet-week-oliver/) Pet of the Week - Oliver       (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/governor-appoints-bo-luckey-dps-commissioner-4/) (Governor Tate Reeves has appointed Bo Luckey as the new Commissioner of the Mississippi...)      (https://www.wtva.com/video/2026/10/16/governor-appoints-bo-luckey-dps-commissioner-4/) Governor appoints Bo Luckey as DPS Commissioner                    (https://www.wtva.com/news) News  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us) Station History  (https://www.wtva.com/programming/schedule) Programming Schedule  (https://www.wtva.com/newsletter/) Receive Email Alerts  (https://www.wtva.com/news/national) National  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/meet-the-team) Newsroom Bios  (https://www.wtva.com/news/aging-untold) Aging Untold  (https://www.wtva.com/community/user-content) User Content  (https://www.wtva.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.wtva.com/about-us/contact-us) Contact Us  (https://www.wtva.com/livestream/) Watch Live  (https://graymedia.com/careers/#graymap) Careers  (https://www.wtva.com/sports) Sports  (https://www.wtva.com/page/advertise-with-us/) Advertise With Us  (https://www.wtva.com/contests) Contests    WTVA 1359 Beech Springs Rd. Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 842-7620        (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/tv-profile/WTVA?id=74148) Public Inspection File  (https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/api/manager/download/44b0393b-6e1d-d077-2286-c4dce8204a03/e419083c-81a2-421f-8307-ef9e06a9d5cf.pdf) EEO Report  (https://webpubcontent.gray.tv/gdm/fcc/wtva-fcc_applications.pdf) FCC Applications  (https://www.wtva.com/page/closed-captioning/) Closed Captioning/Audio Description  (https://www.wtva.com/terms-of-service/) Terms of Service  (https://www.wtva.com/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy  (mailto:traffic@wtva.com) Traffic Contact Email  (tel:662-842-7620) 662-842-7620  (https://www.wtva.com/advertising) Advertising    (https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/Gray-AI-Policy.pdf) Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.  A Gray Local Media Station © 2002-2026