JOPLIN, Mo. —
Joplin resident Russell England said tonight that he is overjoyed to be joining the 2012 Joplin High School graduating class to hear a commencement address by the President of the United States.
"I can hardly wait,” said England, 90.
Born when the Ku Klux Klan was at its most powerful, England, who also lived through the Jim Crow era, said recently that he wanted to be there when President Barack Obama spoke at the Joplin High School graduation.
“It would be the happiest thing in my life,” England said. “ ... I didn’t think that day would ever come, but it did. It did happen.”
Several weeks ago, Bruce Baird, a former Joplin resident who now lives in Alameda, Calif., put ads on Craigslist seeking graduation tickets for England, a longtime family friend.
Joplin Superintendent C.J. Huff and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon arranged for England to get tickets.
Graduation begins at 7 p.m. at the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.
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Russell England, 90, who had expressed the desire earlier in the year to hear President Barack Obama speak at the Joplin High School commencement, will be able to attend the service tonight. Globe file/Roger Nomer
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Russell England present for tonight’s speech
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