Pryor, Albert Conklin, Jr.
(born: 1912 - died: 2005)Albert C. Pryor, Jr. was born in Paducah, KY, the son of Albert C. Pryor, Sr. and Minnie Moreland Pryor. Pryor, Jr. graduated from Le Moyne College in 1942 and taught at Kentucky State College [now Kentucky State University] before earning a master's degree in sociology from the University of Chicago.
In 1954 Pryor became the first African American hired to teach high school in the Springfield, MA school system. Pryor earned his Ph. D. in 1963 from the University of Connecticut and in 1967 was hired as a full professor at Western New England College (now Western New England University), where he created and developed the school's social work program; he retired from there in 1983. The Al Pryor Award for Social Work was named in his honor.
Pryor wrote the thesis, The reactions of Negro veterans to their military experiences and was co-author of The Negro population of Kentucky at mid-century.
For more see "Albert C. Pryor, Jr.," The Republican (newspaper), 2/5/2005, Obits section, p. B04; "Ubora Award Winners," at the Springfield Museums website (includes photograph).