Rutherford H. Adkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rutherford H. Adkins
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Rutherford H. Adkins in 1944
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| Nickname(s) | Lubby |
| Born | November 21, 1924 Alexandria, Virginia |
| Died | February 6, 1996 (aged 71) Nashville, Tennessee |
| Service/ |
United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Other work |
President of Knoxville College President of Fisk University
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Rutherford H. "Lubby" Adkins (born November 21, 1924 – died February 6, 1998) was an American pilot and leader. He was a brave military aviator and later became a university president. During World War II, he served with the famous Tuskegee Airmen. He flew 14 important missions in the war.
After the war, Adkins returned home to finish his education. He earned many degrees, including a PhD from The Catholic University. He was the first African American to get a PhD from that university. Later, Adkins became the president of two colleges: Knoxville College and Fisk University.
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Serving in the Military
Rutherford Adkins joined the army in 1943 while he was studying at Temple University. He received special flight training at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. This is where the Tuskegee Airmen were trained.
He became part of the 100th Fighter Squadron, which was part of the 332nd Fighter Group. Adkins was sent to Europe to fly combat missions. He flew 14 missions, mostly helping to protect bomber planes.
Education and Career Path
Adkins first went to college at Virginia Union University. He later moved to Temple University. His studies were paused when he was drafted into the army.
After his time in the military, Adkins went back to school. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Virginia State University in 1947. He then got a master's degree in physics from Howard University in 1949. In 1955, he made history by becoming the first African American to earn a PhD from The Catholic University. His PhD paper was about a complex physics topic called "A Theoretical Investigation of Odd-Odd Nuclei."
Adkins had a long and impressive career in education. He taught at several universities, including Virginia State College, Tennessee State University, and the U.S. Naval Academy. He also worked at Georgia Institute of Technology.
He served as the interim president of Fisk University from 1995 to 1996. Before that, he was the president of Knoxville College from 1976 to 1981. In 1993, Adkins returned to Fisk University as a physics professor. He later led the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He was named Interim President of Fisk University again in July 1996, and then became the official President in February 1997.
Adkins understood early on how important computers would be for learning and research. He helped Fisk University get an IBM 370 computer. He also became a founding director of the university's computer center.
Research in Physics
Adkins's research mainly focused on the theoretical physics of how atoms collide. He studied topics like how certain particles form and how energy moves in gases. He did much of this work during summer jobs at important government labs. These included NASA's Langley Research Center, the Army's Harry Diamond Laboratory, and the Naval Research Laboratory.
Personal Life
Rutherford Adkins had three children. He passed away in February 1998, after being diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1997.
See also
- Dogfights (TV series)
- Executive Order 9981
- Freeman Field Mutiny
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
