Luska Twyman

Luska Joseph Twyman (May 19, 1913 – January 28, 1988) was a Kentucky politician and educator. Twyman became Kentucky's first African American mayor in 1968 when he became mayor of Glasgow, Kentucky, the county seat for Barren County.[1][2][3] He also was World War II veteran.

Luska Joseph Twyman
BornMay 19, 1913
Hiseville, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 1988
Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S.
Burial placeBearwallow Baptist Cemetery, Horse Cave, Hart County, Kentucky, U.S.
Other namesLuska J. Twyman
Alma materKentucky State College
Indiana University
Simmons College of Kentucky
Occupation(s)Politician, educator

Biography

Luska Joseph Twyman was born on May 19, 1913, in Hiseville, Kentucky.[4] Twyman attended public schools in Barren County and he graduated from the Mayo–Underwood School in Frankfort, Kentucky.[4][5] He was an alumnus of Kentucky State University (1938; then known as Kentucky State College),[1][6] and a 1936 initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Alpha Upsilon chapter. Twyman also received a MS degree from Indiana University;[1] and a LLD degree from Simmons University (later known as Simmons College of Kentucky).[1] He was also a World War II veteran.[4]

Twyman was an appointee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.[7] During his tenure as mayor, Twyman was also the principal of Ralph Bunche School (named after Ralph Bunche) in Glasgow, which originally was the city's school for African-Americans before integration.[4] After integration in 1964,[4] the school became the sixth-grade school for the entire Glasgow Independent Schools.

He died on January 28, 1988, in Glasgow.[1] The Luska J. Twyman Memorial Park in Glasgow, Kentucky is named for him. Additionally historical marker #2019 in Glasgow was in his honor.

References
  1. Smith, Gerald L.; McDaniel, Karen Cotton; Hardin, John A. (2015-08-28). The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 502. ISBN 978-0-8131-6066-5.
  2. "A Negro is Mayor of Kentucky City". The New York Times. 1968-09-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  3. Story, Justin (August 28, 2013). "Glover: Twyman played important role in Glasgow's black community". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  4. Terry, Sam (October 15, 2019). "Luska Twyman: Kentucky's first black mayor". The Sentinel-Echo. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  5. "Throwback Thursday - Kentucky's first African American mayor: Luska Twyman". WNKY News 40 Television. 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  6. "Notable Alumni". Kentucky State University. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  7. Notable Kentucky African Americans Database University of Kentucky library
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