Surname Index
Updated: 18 Jan 2012

Daily Oklahoman, The 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
June 1, 1994

Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, William B. Mitchell, Jr. was a student at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee when he was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi for his participation in a Freedom Ride from Nashville, via Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi on May 28, 1961.¹  His civil rights activity led him to imprisonment in Mississippi and expulsion from the University.

He attended TSU and the University of Central Oklahoma. He graduated from Douglas High School and entered Tennessee State in 1960. After expulsion from TSU he entered the University of Central Oklahoma but was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War.  He served in the U. S. Army and received an Honorable Discharge. After his service in civil rights and determined to finish his education, he returned to school at Langston University whre he received a BS and Masters. He became a high school teacher and principal. He and his wife, Sandra had four children. Mr. Mitchell was devoted to his family and church.^{2, 4}

William Benjamin Mitchell, Jr. died November 24, 2003.⁴  [Note: I could not find an obit for him]

On Sept. 18 [2008], the historically black university made amends by presenting the former students with honorary degrees, three of them posthumously. “It’s been such an honor. Higher than any expectation I had,” said Sandra Mitchell, 60, who accepted the Doctor of Human Letters degree on behalf of her late husband, William B. Mitchell Jr. ³

¹Civil Rights Digital Library

²Freedom Riders 14 Biography

³First Amendment Center.

⁴Tennesse State University Fall 2008 Opening Convocation

Sources:  good faith fair use of sources stated above

Compiled, transcribed and submitted by Marti Graham, Oklahoma County, OKGenWeb Coordinator, February 2009. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

I believe in random acts of kindness and I believe in sharing genealogy. If you have copies of photos, obituaries, wills, biographies, or stories relating to any of these families or other Oklahoma County families, would you consider sending them my way for publication at this site?

I always welcome comments and corrections.

I live outside the Oklahoma City area, I cannot personally do any research for you. However I will try to direct you to someone who may help you if you can't find what you want here. Please understand ALL information on this site was contributed by people like you. If it's not on the site, I don't have it. Thanks