Alexis Schindler
Staff writer
aschindler1@murraystate.edu
The hard work and dedication of the late Marvin D. Mills, Sr. to Murray State University and its diversity were commemorated with the rededication of the Dr. Marvin D. Mills, Sr. Multicultural Center Friday, April 12.
The center was previously located in the Student Involvement Center on the first floor of the Curris Center. It is still located on the first floor of the Curris Center but has taken over the area where the Racer ID Office was.
Executive Director of the Multicultural Center SG Carthell said he has been at the center for about 14 years. The center had been in the previous location for 20-plus years and was originally dedicated in Marvin D. Mills’ honor in 2005, he said.
“We made the move thanks to a number of people like President Jackson and Dr. (Don) Robertson,” Carthell said. “They saw the opportunity to move the center up front and have it be more visible. Everybody came together to make this move happen over Christmas break.”
He said the decision to rededicate the center was made based on the fact it was moving to a more visible location and Mills had recently passed in early September 2018.
“It seemed fitting since he unfortunately could not see the move we would do a rededication to reiterate the mission of the center and to put an exclamation point on his continuing legacy at Murray State University,” Carthell said. “Not only his legacy through this program and this Multicultural Center, but through the occupational safety and health program which he was very instrumental in starting and because he was one of our early African American faculty members.”
The rededication ceremony began with Mills’ wife Eunice Mills and son Glen Mills cutting the ribbon on the Multicultural Center door. Attendees of the event then filed into the new space and waited for Carthell to give the opening remarks.
President Jackson followed Carthell giving the welcoming remarks.
“Thank you all for being here,” Jackson said at the ceremony. “This is indeed a special day. Dr. Don Robertson, vice president of student affairs, and Dr. SG Carthell worked very hard and have for a long time in making this a special place.”
He also expressed thanks to Carthell’s wife, Alicia Carthell, along with several others for working over winter break to get the center moved into its new location.
“Dr. Marvin Mills was our friend,” Jackson said. “He was a special person, and I am so grateful we are able to recognize him today.”
Jackson said Mills served in many roles at Murray State – from faculty member to foundation board member – but what meant the most to Mills as he went through his career was being a teacher.
He recalled in his speech a quote Mills gave for a Murray State Hold Thy Banner High fundraising campaign video in 2008.
“[Mills] said these words as he was being interviewed: ‘Murray has a wonderful history. Everywhere you go you meet people who finished at Murray or know about Murray, and the history is about quality education,’” Jackson said. “Then, he pointed into the camera and said,‘You know when you give here your money will be well spent. You know they are seeking quality students and the students are being prepared to serve their communities, their region, their state and the world. Support for Murray State is support for equality, support for professionalism, support to lead and it is support for our students.’”
The fundraising campaign went on to surpass the set goal of $60 million and ended with $71 million, making it “the largest fundraising campaign in the institution’s history,” according to the Murray State website.
More kind words on the work Mills did for the University and its students were shared by Vice President Don Robertson, President of the Black Student Council Keandra Dillard, Board of Regents Chair Susan Guess, President of the MSU Foundation David Durr, Murray State and Multicultural Center alums Geco Ross and Jeremi Bumpus, and Mills’ son Glen and grandson Paul.
The common theme among the speakers was how much Mills pushed those around him to be the best they could be, his never-ending interest in his students and their education and the efforts he made in recruiting students to Murray State. Some funny anecdotes were shared as well.
Glen Mills gave words of advice to the students in attendance that his father had given to him.
“Dad instilled in us the need to get to know people who were not like you,” he said. “He encouraged us, and I encourage you, get with people who don’t believe the same things you do, get with people who have a different faith than you, people who are at a different economic level than you and different walks of life. That is how you learn. You’ve got to reach out and talk to people who are not like you. You might not like what you learn, but you’ll learn something.”
Eunice Mills expressed her gratitude to Murray State.
“I appreciate all that Murray State has done to support Marvin,” she said. “He was very pleased and honored when this came about. I’m sure that he is happy today. Thank you so much, Murray State.”
Paul Mills expressed his gratitude to all of those in attendance.
“I’m happy that every one of you came here to celebrate this with us,” he said. “If he were here, he would love this. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. To all the students, go out and make him proud.”