DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 On January 19, we honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and we know most of the story.<\/p>\n
A Baptist preacher turned civil rights icon who was killed by an assassin in 1968, but did you know an important chapter in the MLK story unfolded in a now-shuttered theological school near Chester?<\/p>\n
Long before his famous speech, and the freedom marches and King\u2019s journey to iconic status, there was an important stop in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad, my late father, actually heard Dr. King speak in Chester,\u201d said Janet Murphy.<\/p>\n
King wasn\u2019t a doctor yet, nor was he a pastor, but he was studying to be one at Crozer Theological Seminary, which closed in 1970, on the site of Crozer Chester Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was only 19 when he entered Crosier in 1948,\u201d Murphy said.<\/p>\n
Murphy loves Delaware County, its history and King\u2019s role in it. She even has a PowerPoint presentation that includes a photo of his dorm room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the first African-American or Black student body president,\u201d Murphy said.<\/p>\n
An important chapter in an important life mostly unknown. Now, enter Patrick Parr, whose book chronicles King\u2019s three years at Crozer including his first public speaking class.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe got a \u2018C\u2019 in public speaking,\u201d Parr said. \u201cThe professor, Robert Clayton, was a tough grader.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes, he does mean King. A \u201cC\u201d in public speaking, which is an important course for a would-be preacher.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was still learning,\u201d Parr said. \u201cSo, he he still didn\u2019t know his voice at that time. He was still working it out. He he was a he was an academic at heart, but he didn\u2019t really have the training yet to deliver that voice that we all remember so well.\u201d<\/p>\n