Thomas Gaither (1938-2024), born in Great Falls, South Carolina, was a Slippery Rock University (SRU) professor emeritus of biology and respected civil rights activist. Gaither earned degrees from Claflin College, Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from the University of Iowa. He began his career as a professor at SRU in 1968, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 2007.
Gaither’s involvement in the civil rights movement began while attending Claflin College, where he worked as a field secretary for CORE (Congress of Racial Equality). In 1961, Gaither, along with eight students at Rock Hill’s Friendship Junior College, were jailed after organizing a sit-in at a “whites-only” lunch counter to protest South Carolina segregation laws. Gaither and the other students became known as the “Friendship Nine,” and helped to usher in the “Jail, No Bail” strategy for the sit-in movements of the South.
Remembered at Slippery Rock University for his years of service as a professor of biology, Gaither earned numerous accolades in teaching and became a mentor for many Slippery Rock students. The Thomas Gaither Award for Excellence, a scholarship at SRU established in 2018, is a testament to his impact in the Slippery Rock community.
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