FAMU to Unveil Statue Honoring Iconic President Frederick S. Humphries – Oct. 17, paying homage to his enduring impact
TALLAHASEE, Fla. - Florida A&M University (FAMU) will unveil a statue of former President Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., in front of Lee Hall, paying tribute to the pioneering leader who reshaped the university and championed excellence in higher education.
“Dr. Frederick S. Humphries was more than a president of Florida A&M University—he was a champion for young people, a fierce advocate for education, and a visionary whose leadership lifted this institution to national prominence. Under his guidance, FAMU didn’t just grow in enrollment and academic achievement—we grew in confidence, in spirit, and in pride. His words, ‘Excellence with Caring,’ were never simply a slogan; they remain a living standard for all of us. Each day, his legacy calls us to pair rigor with compassion and ambition with service,” said FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D.
During his transformative 16-year tenure transformative 16-year tenure (1985 to 2001), Humphries led the institution to national prominence, including aggressive growth and academic distinction. In 2009, Humphries was named President Emeritus.
Under his leadership, FAMU:
- Was named College of the Year by TIME/Princeton Review in 1997,
- Became #1 in the nation for enrolling National Achievement Scholars,
- Tripled its research funding and grew its enrollment dramatically.
The tribute project was originally initiated by the Frederick S. Humphries Life Gets Better Bronze Statue Committee, chaired by Jim Davis, with support from Humphries’ daughter, Robin T. Humphries. The committee launched a $175,000 fundraising campaign in 2013, beginning with a private dinner hosted at Humphries’ Orlando home. After his son, Laurence Humphries, joined the FAMU Foundation Board in 2014, the family continued advancing the effort through the 2022 Honoring Our Heroes campaign, which ultimately secured the funds necessary for the statue’s fabrication, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
This statue is more than a record of our father’s achievements; it marks the standard he lived by—foresight, scholarship, and an unshakable belief in what African American students and our HBCUs can become,” said Laurence Humphries, son of the late president. “He loved FAMU deeply. Guided by his mentor President George W. Gore’s example and the moral charge voiced by Rev. Moses General Miles, his devotion to this University became a lifelong covenant to the end of his life. This tribute calls each new generation of FAMUANS to uphold that legacy—with excellence, with caring, and with the conviction that FAMU must live forever.
The bronze statue will be erected near the Eternal Flame—an especially fitting location, as Laurence Humphries noted, because his father commissioned the monument to commemorate FAMU’s selection as the inaugural TIME Magazine/Princeton Review “College of the Year” in 1997. During his presidency, Humphries also oversaw the restoration of Lee Hall, returning it to its role as the administration building—the same one he remembered from his days as a student.
“The statue of Dr. Humphries, standing proudly at the center of our campus, is more than bronze—it is a beacon. It reminds us that education has the power to transform lives, uplift communities, and change the world. For generations of Rattlers to come, it will stand as both a tribute and a challenge: to honor his vision by advancing the legacy he entrusted to us.” Johnson said.
Humphries passed away in 2021. He is survived by three children, Frederick Jr., Robin Tanya Watson, and Laurence Humphries, and eight grandchildren. Antoinette McTurner Humphries, his wife of 46 years, died in 2006.
Event Details:
Location: Lee Hall, FAMU Campus
Date: Friday, Oct. 17
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Speakers will include current FAMU leadership, alumni, and members of Humphries’ family.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Commincations
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
