After 17 years and four moves, the Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center has found its final resting place.

The $1 million structure, once named the Black People's Union, underwent many changes. The building has moved from a location on Elm Avenue to Jenkins Street. In 1985, students suggested the center's name be changed to Henderson-Tolson Cultural Center. The building permanent home is at 1335 Asp Ave.

George Henderson, director of Human Relations Advanced Programs and the building's namesake, said he is glad the HTCC has found a home.

"We needed a permanent resting place for memories and for students who have done great things," Henderson said.

Henderson said the HTCC finding a permanent location means a great deal to and for students.

"It means a place where traditions are permanent and memories are permanent. (Students) now have their own challenges to create their own history by achieving in the classroom," Henderson said.

Friday, the OU community gathered to witness the new and final location of the HTCC and to honor George Henderson and Melvin B. Tolson, Jr. at the grand opening celebration.

C. Don Bradley, director of the Center For Student Life, set the tone by announcing the day was one of celebration.

"This is a day to honor the great men this building represents," Bradley said.

James Gordon, Black Student Association president explained what Henderson's and Tolson's accomplishments mean to the African-American community.

"These two distinguished men paved the way when success was not a word for African-Americans to progress on a predominantly white campus," Gordon said.

Henderson and Tolson have indeed progressed. Each have received distinguished awards and titles for their hard work and an expensive building.

The center is for African-American students, but is not limited to the African-American community, Gordon said. He said other organizations may use the facilities.

Clarke Stroud, vice-president for Student Affairs, spoke on the difficult situations Henderson and Tolson faced over the years.

"It was difficult to come to OU," Stroud said. "It was difficult when Norman was a sundown town."

Henderson said when he first came to OU he and his family endured obscene phone calls, garbage on his lawn, broken car windows and racial slurs.

Despite all those problems, Henderson said the students were what made him stay here.

"It was always the students that told us they need us here," Henderson said.

Stroud said the HTCC is a testament to the progress OU has made over the years.

"We laugh, work and cry together," Stroud said. "This building embodies our spirit."

OU President David L. Boren agreed and said the OU spirit is what makes the community great.

"I thought a building was just a building," Boren said. "But what makes it is what's inside."

Boren said, in the words of James Weldon Johnson in Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, that the building will be full of faith the past has brought and full of the hope that the present has brought.

Despite the university's cultural differences, Boren said one thing will always stay the same: OU is a Sooner family.

Boren presented a replica of the HTCC to Henderson and Tolson, two members of the Sooner Family who have worked at OU for more than 30 years.

Tolson was OU's first African-American faculty member in 1959. Tolson closed by thanking his father, Melvin Tolson, educator, poet and mayor of Langston.

Henderson acknowledged the progress that African Americans have made over the years on OU's campus.

"We've moved from the outhouse to the big house," Henderson joked. "I accept this honor on behalf of students and my family."

Henderson said OU spared no expense on the building, a fact that makes him proud.

"We're proud," Henderson said. "We are first class. We've lived as second class too long."
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