DETROIT--Murray Jackson, a poet, retired college professor and community and civil rights activist, died Feb. 5 following a lengthy illness. He was 75.

Most of Jackson's professional and community service efforts were directed to the metropolitan Detroit area. He maintained a lifelong commitment to community building, civil rights and education while also achieving notoriety in literary circles as a poet.

Following his service in the Navy Seabees during World War II, he returned to Detroit and entered Wayne State University as a student, rejecting a recruiting contract from the major league baseball club known as the Brooklyn Dodgers. He graduated from Wayne State with both bachelor's and master's degrees in the humanities and began his career as an academic advisor in the university's College of Liberal Arts.

Jackson's affiliation with Wayne State continued throughout his life both as an administrator, teacher, and from 1981-2001, as an elected member of the university's Board of Governors.

"Murray Jackson gave his magnificent intellect to the world and his heart to higher education, especially to Wayne State University," said President Irvin D. Reid, Wayne State University. "On behalf of the entire university community I have expressed my deepest sympathy to Governor Jackson's family. We identify with their grief, for we have lost an engaging colleague, and we all are diminished by his passing," added Reid.

Following his resignation from the Wayne State University Board of Governors due to illness, the board recently recognized his 20 years of service with an endowed scholarship in his name and appointed him Governor Emeritus. The Board also awarded Jackson an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Among other significant achievements in higher education, he was instrumental in founding Detroit's first urban college and was appointed Founding President of Wayne County Community College in 1970. The University of Michigan offered Jackson a tenured faculty position in 1972 which he held until his appointment as Emeritus Associate Professor of Urban Higher Education in 1992. He also served as Acting Director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the university.

Jackson's cultural contributions to both Detroit and the nation have been numerous throughout his lifetime. He served as the first executive director of the Detroit Council of the Arts.

Especially active in writing circles in recent years, he was resident poet and workshop leader at the Detroit Public Library. He also served on numerous literary workshops, panels and seminars throughout the nation and often was the featured poet at various forums. His published works include Watermelon Rinds and Cherry Pits, published by Broadside Press, and his most recent, selections in New Poems from the Third Coast, published by the Wayne State University Press.

Dr. Jackson is survived by his wife, Wayne State Professor Kathryne V. Lindberg, his brother, Dr. Lawrence Jackson, his daughter, Llenda Jackson-Leslie, his son, Dr. M. David Jackson, three grandsons, Christopher, Eric, and Gregory, Irene Wise, widow of his brother Arthur, among other beloved family and close friends.


Memorial contributions may be made payable to: Murray Jackson Scholarship Fund and mailed c/o Wayne State University, 5475 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202. Other appropriate charities include Wayne State University Brain Tumor Research Fund, Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Hospice of Michigan.