Hall of Fame
Frederick S. Humphries, Ph.D., a cherished and influential figure in FAMU’s history, was born in Apalachicola, Florida. He graduated from FAMU in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964. By the 1970s, Humphries had already made his mark on historically Black colleges and universities, helping to set new academic standards as director of the HBCU 13-College Curriculum Program.
Humphries served as FAMU’s eighth president from 1985 to 2001, perfecting the “Rattler Charge” and championing philanthropy, student advocacy, and the creation of the Eternal Flame monument — a symbol of FAMU’s 1997–98 recognition as Timemagazine’s “College of the Year.”
