Mary Price Walls To Receive College Degree 60 Years After Being Denied Entry To Missouri State University: WATCH

Sixty years ago, Mary Price Walls became the first black student to apply to Missouri State University.

She never heard back. The salutatorian of her high school class, she went on to work as an elevator operator and a janitor. "I would have made a wonderful school teacher," Walls told ABC News.

Ozarks Public Radio reports that Walls was "essentially denied admission" from Missouri State. ABC News attributes the denial to racial segregation.

This week, Missouri State will bestow Price with an honorary undergraduate degree -- the first in its history.

WATCH: ABC News' full report:

Comments

[thomas paine]

10:01 PM on 07/30/2010

Too bad she didn't get the opportunit­y 60 years ago but I guess they're making it up to her in the only way they can.

Yet, it would probably be better if they created a scholarshi­p in her name and gave it to a deserving minority student. Then maybe someone will get an opportunit­y to go to college that might not have otherwise.

[KIVPossum]

03:23 AM on 07/30/2010

Nice they will give her an honorary degree.

I think the lady would have been more proud if she had been allowed to go to school and earn it.

[wendelswerk]

11:46 PM on 07/29/2010

Wonderful!

[socraticsarah]

09:43 PM on 07/29/2010

You deserved this a long time ago, Ms. Wells.

[Gingercake]

09:13 PM on 07/29/2010

Congratula­tions, Ms. Wells :) Way to go!!!!

[jgourlay]

02:36 PM on 07/29/2010

I LOVE feisty old people! Especially the ones that allow no obstacles to withstand them! Congratula­tions Ms. Walls!

[RockyMissouri]

01:47 PM on 07/29/2010

This is a month-old story here...60 years...wo­w! How does one not allow hatred to take over their life, knowing that your family-you­r loved ones- have had the deck unfairly stacked against them....an­d you can do nothing but watch. How do people not succumb to hatred?? How do these people who should display such anger---sh­ow incredible beauty and grace and shame every single one of us.....yes­, she should have been a schoolteac­her..!....­what she has become is a beautiful beacon of hope for all of us to rise above hatred---a­nd listen to each other.! Mary Walls is the lesson for us all--by her very example of what qualities define an American--­--she is it....

[G FORCE]

12:26 PM on 07/29/2010

AMAZING STORY!!!!!­!!

THE SYSTEM FAILED SO MANY PEOPLE AND AFTER SO MANY YEARS!!!
THIS IS WHAT THE GOP WOULD LIKE TO SEE COME BACK TO THIS COUNTRY
THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF TEA PARTY BIGOTS!!

THEY WONT GET THAT CHANCE EVER AGAIN!!

[roald]

01:10 PM on 07/29/2010

Truly an amazing story, but please stop yelling. It is difficult to read. Thank you.

[RockyMissouri]

01:49 PM on 07/29/2010

I quite agree...!