In his time as an undergraduate, he was a student leader in the civil rights movement and twice met Martin Luther King Jr. He led the on-campus civil rights movement while at the same time commanding the Southern University Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) unit.
During his time at university, he played a leadership role in the civil rights movement and met Martin Luther King Jr. twice. He also commanded the Southern University ROTC unit while overseeing the on-campus civil rights initiatives.