A MONUMENT HONORING VIRGIL VARNELL HAWKINS STANDS IN OKAHUMPKA, FL NEXT TO POST OFFICE, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 33 AND 48. THE MONUMENT IS ABOUT A MILE FROM HIS GRAVESITE, AND A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOME WHERE VIRGIL WAS BORN AND SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD. HAWKINS MADE MANY PERSONAL SACRIFICES THAT DESEGREGATED FLORIDA'S UNIVERSITIES ALLOWING
OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS TO PURSUE A LAW DEGREE. IN 1946, HAWKINS APPLIED FOR, BUT WAS DENIED ENTRANCE INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF FL LAW SCHOOL. HE FILED A LAW SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF FL. WHEN THE SUIT WAS FILED THE STATE OPENED A LAW SCHOOL AT FL A&M UNIVERSITY AS A DEFENSE TO HIS LAWSUIT. HAWKINS REFUSED TO ENTER FAMU SCHOOL ALLEGING THAT THESTATE, BY OPENING THE SCHOOL AT HISTORICALLY BLACK FAMU WAS MAINTAINING DISCRIMINATION. AFTER NINE YEARS, THE STATE AGREED TO DESEGREGATE THE UF LAW SCHOOL, IF VIRGIL WITHDREW HIS REQUEST FOR ADMISSION. HIS WITHDRAWAL, GIVING UP HIS OWN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTRANCE, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OTHERS TO ENTER THE UF LAW SCHOOL. THEREAFTER, THE SCHOOL WAS UNACCREDITED. HIS REQUEST TO TAKE THE TEST AND BE ADMITTED
TO THE FL BAR AFTER GRADUATION WAS DENIED. AT AGE 7O AFTER MUCH LITIGATION THE FL STATE SUPREME CT AGREED TO ADMIT VIRGIL TO THE FL BAR AS A MEANS OF RIGHTING A WRONG. THE LAW LIBRARY AT UNIVERSITY OF FL TODAY IS NAMED THE VIRGIL HAWKINS LIBRARY IN HONOR OF THE SACRIFICES HE MADE.
A MONUMENT HONORING VIRGIL VARNELL HAWKINS STANDS IN OKAHUMPKA, FL NEXT TO POST OFFICE, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 33 AND 48. THE MONUMENT IS ABOUT A MILE FROM HIS GRAVESITE, AND A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOME WHERE VIRGIL WAS BORN AND SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD. HAWKINS MADE MANY PERSONAL SACRIFICES THAT DESEGREGATED FLORIDA'S UNIVERSITIES ALLOWING
OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS TO PURSUE A LAW DEGREE. IN 1946, HAWKINS APPLIED FOR, BUT WAS DENIED ENTRANCE INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF FL LAW SCHOOL. HE FILED A LAW SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF FL. WHEN THE SUIT WAS FILED THE STATE OPENED A LAW SCHOOL AT FL A&M UNIVERSITY AS A DEFENSE TO HIS LAWSUIT. HAWKINS REFUSED TO ENTER FAMU SCHOOL ALLEGING THAT THESTATE, BY OPENING THE SCHOOL AT HISTORICALLY BLACK FAMU WAS MAINTAINING DISCRIMINATION. AFTER NINE YEARS, THE STATE AGREED TO DESEGREGATE THE UF LAW SCHOOL, IF VIRGIL WITHDREW HIS REQUEST FOR ADMISSION. HIS WITHDRAWAL, GIVING UP HIS OWN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENTRANCE, MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OTHERS TO ENTER THE UF LAW SCHOOL. THEREAFTER, THE SCHOOL WAS UNACCREDITED. HIS REQUEST TO TAKE THE TEST AND BE ADMITTED
TO THE FL BAR AFTER GRADUATION WAS DENIED. AT AGE 7O AFTER MUCH LITIGATION THE FL STATE SUPREME CT AGREED TO ADMIT VIRGIL TO THE FL BAR AS A MEANS OF RIGHTING A WRONG. THE LAW LIBRARY AT UNIVERSITY OF FL TODAY IS NAMED THE VIRGIL HAWKINS LIBRARY IN HONOR OF THE SACRIFICES HE MADE.
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