In Arkansas, most Black students who attended college went to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff or to Tuskegee University.
Despite these options, Bill Bazzelle chose Texas Southern University (TSU), a historically Black college in Houston, Texas. His uncle, Dr. Bridges A. Turner, served as the dean of the TSU School of Vocational and Industrial Education. Knowing he had family in the area was a major influence on Bill’s choice. Still just 16 years old, Bill began his studies at TSU in 1960.
Like many first-year students, Bill Bazzelle struggled during his freshman year. The new environment and social life of college presented him with a challenge. After a difficult year, Bill refocused and began to flourish academically at TSU, meeting the expectations of his educator parents.
Bill was socially active during his time in college. He pledged the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, one of the Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, in his second year. Though Bazzelle had hoped to join earlier, his freshman grades delayed his initiation until the spring of 1962. Despite the delay, Bazzelle moved into leadership roles, becoming the Vice Polemarch of the TSU Beta Upsilon Chapter. His other activities outside the classroom included participation in student government, the school band, and the American Chemical Society.
At Texas Southern, Bill was surrounded and inspired by talented faculty and staff. Many of the TSU faculty at the time had an impact and influence far beyond campus. Dr. John Biggers, chair of the Art Department, was a noted Black American artist whose work has been exhibited in museums throughout the United States. One of Dr. Biggers' murals graces the wall of the liberal arts building at TSU. Stan Wright, coach of the school’s track team, broke numerous collegiate records around the time Bazzelle attended TSU. A few of the team's fastest sprinters joined the National Football League (NFL) as wide receivers after graduation. Wright also coached the 1968 Olympic track team, remembered for the record-breaking speed of Jim Hines and the podium protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
One of Bill Bazzelle’s favorite professors was Dr. Thomas Freeman, the noted debate coach and humanities educator. Dr. Freeman’s stimulating and memorable lectures inspired him. Among Dr. Freeman's other notable debate students were the U.S. Representative of Texas Barbara Jordan, the U.S. Representative of Texas Mickey Leland, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Denzel Washington.
Bazelle's mentor Dr. Lloyd Woods, Chair of the Chemistry Department, had the greatest impact on his career path. He encouraged Bazzelle to attend graduate school and, most importantly, found him multiple assistantship offers to fund his advanced degree.
In this excerpt from Dr. William E. Bazzelle Sr.: A Life of Science & Service, Dr. Bazzelle talks about his experiences as an undergraduate at Texas Southern:
In this excerpt from Dr. William E. Bazzelle Sr.: A Life of Science & Service, Dr. Bazzelle talks about the influential professors during his time at Texas Southern:
Introduction | Heritage | Growing Up | College | Graduate School | DuPont Years | Family | STEM Mentorship | Philanthropy