Flags at Half Staff in Honor of Ivory Moore, Sr.

The university flag flies at half staff today, Tuesday, August 5, in memory of Ivory Moore, Sr., who passed away August 1, 2014.  Moore retired from the university in 1992 after a long and distinguished career.  His funeral service is scheduled for noon on Saturday, August 9 at First Baptist Church in Commerce (1401 Washington Street).

“The university community is saddened at the loss of Mr. Ivory Moore, a true trailblazer in many areas,” said President Dan R. Jones. “Mr. Moore's contributions to the university and the community throughout the years are an inspiration to all who knew and worked with him.”

Moore came to East Texas State University in 1972 after serving as principal and coach in Wichita Falls high schools where he had been elected Teacher of the Year and served as the first African-American principal in the Wichita Falls school system.  After his arrival at the university, he wrote a successful grant for $300,000 for tutorial and counseling work with disadvantaged students, and a few years later wrote a grant for an Upward Bound Program.  He was the first African-American administrator, serving as Dean of Minority Affairs in the 1970s and 1980s.  In 1976 he was the first African-American to be elected to the City Council of Commerce, where he served 18 years, including two years as mayor.  He served on various Texas state boards under three governors: Bill Clements, Mark White, and Ann Richards.  While serving the Democratic Party, he also spent 10 years as vice president on the state board of NAACP, and was Lt. Governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District of Kiwanis Clubs.