This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Luck and Opportunity in Carl Rowan Speech
The excerpt from Carl T. Rowan at Kansas State University recounts poverty, bootstraps, and the chance moment that funded his tuition. He describes growing up poor in Tennessee, the temptation to blame government programs, the Navy V-12 exam that changed his life, and the fateful $20 found to pay tuition. He emphasizes preparedness and luck in rising from hardship.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lartdon
Kansas State University
Carl T. Rowan
America
Rowan
Tennessee
Lukey
Carl Rowan
Tennessee State College
Nashville
Joe Bates
Buddy
Joe
Joes
Pheeney
Merle Epps
Professor Epps
George W. Gore
Epps
Dean Gore
Navy
Asd Gore
Atken
Pittsburgh Courier
University of Tennessee
Knoxville
Secretary of the Navy
301
Boswell
Washburn University
Washburn
Midshipmen’s School
Red Clay
Horatio Algers
Tennessee State