Logan, George L.
(born: February 27, 1929)George Leslie Logan was a historian, educator, and civil rights activist. He fought to make Martin Luther King Day a state holiday in Kentucky.
Logan was one of the first African American students at the University of Kentucky in 1952. His experiences as a UK student are talked about in his oral history recording (see attachment). He taught school at the original Dunbar High School in Lexington, KY, starting in 1957 and later became the first African American professional in the Kentucky Department of Education to be the state Director of the Drivers Education Supervisors. He also led the Lexington Planning Commission Board as vice president and as president.
George Logan had many skills. He was employed at the United Nations in Vietnam leading up to the Vietnam War. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving during the Korean War. He taught Russian and American history at the University of the Philippines. A graduate of Kentucky State University, earning a B.A. in history and economics. He was also a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he earned his master's degree in history.
Logan was a member of Omega Psi Phi. In 1968, he was on the planning committee of the fraternity's talent hunt program that held a contest in Lexington that raised money for a scholarship. In 1990, Logan ran unsuccessfully for the Kentucky House of Representatives in the 77th District, losing to Louie Mack and David L. VanHorn in the May primary.
Born in Stanford, KY February 27, 1929, George L. Logan was the son of James and Mary Woodford Logan. He died September 26, 2022 in Lexington and is buried in Evergreen Memory Gardens in Lexington.
For more see Saving Stories: Ky. Civil Rights Hall of Famer George L. Logan, by Alan Lytle, a UK WUKY webpage; "City school system adds 47 teachers to complete staff," Sunday Herald-Leader, 8/18/1957, p. 53; "The Talent hunters," Sunday Herald-Leader, 3/10/1968, p. 15; Unofficial primary results from voting in Kentucky," Lexington Herald-Leader, 5/30/1990, p. A7; "First Days of School Segregation at HistoricalSceneInvestigation; and his obituary at tributearchive.com.
