Dr. Ernest Boger’s legacy as USF’s first African American student and hospitality industry pioneer

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HERITAGE MONTH

Dr. Ernest Boger’s story is one of trailblazing achievements across his career and academic pursuits. From pioneering roles in the hospitality and tourism industry to making history as the first African American student at the University of South Florida (USF), his contributions have not only shaped the history of the Civil Rights Movement but have also left a lasting legacy.

In 1945, just west of the historic Ybor City, Boger was born at what was then known as, ‘The Tampa Negro Hospital.’ His early years were spent in the West Tampa area where he fondly described his boyhood as an, “All-American” experience.

“I did all the things that boys do when they grow up. I played with electric trains, I had telescopes, air rifles, and was even part of the local Boy Scouts. I did all the things that boys did when they grew up in that time,” Boger said.

In 1956, Boger and his family had to relocate when their home was deemed as part of an eminent domain zone. Forced to make a change, they chose to settle in a Progress Village community. These communities were designed to offer affordable housing to Florida’s displaced African American population as a result of redevelopment in Black neighborhoods.

Coming of age during the Jim Crow era and Civil Rights Movement, Boger reflects on his experience growing up in Tampa. Despite moments of feeling as if he wasn’t segregated, he was always aware that by law, he was.

“Tampa was a very cosmopolitan city during those times, as most southern cities had a Black section. Tampa had people that looked like me all over, and there were about 12 to 15 areas where there were Black communities next door to white and Latino communities. If you were in a certain section, it didn't feel like you were segregated, although we were legally. Tampa was large enough that there were multiple facilities for people that looked like me, so I didn't have to go past any other place,” Boger explained. “Back in that day, if you had a theater, most southern cities would have Blacks sitting upstairs and whites sitting downstairs. In Tampa, the Black community had two full feature theaters and three drive-in-theaters. Even with activities like Boy Scouts, in some cities there might be one Negro boy scout troop, but in Tampa there were almost ten. I grew up feeling like a Black American boy, in the sense that I didn't have to go out of my way to experience some of the things that others experienced growing up in that time.”

Boger attended Howard W. Blake High School, where he was the valedictorian of his graduating class. Even having met this great achievement, Boger had to take the state Senior Exit Achievement Exam, as did all Florida high school seniors. This exam was also used as a qualifier for state college admissions. He took the exam designated for African American students and scored a 492 out of 495 on the exam.

With outstanding high school grades and an impressive exam record, Boger chose to apply to the recently established USF. Unaware at the time, but Boger’s application would have a profound impact on his career trajectory and the history of USF.

“Apparently, I was the first person of color to apply to a non-Black school. I didn't apply to make a statement, the school was nearby, and I thought to myself, ‘Why not?’ However, when I did, it caused a big kerfuffle in the state school system because they didn't know what to do with my application. Since my scores were designed to put me into a different set of institutions, not into the white schools, it took them a couple of months to figure out how this was all going to work,” Boger explained. “The board said, ‘Well, we don't know what his score would have been on the white exam to let him into the white school, but since he achieved a 492 out of 495 on the Black exam, surely that must be enough to qualify for an acceptance.’”

Boger was accepted as the two-thousandth student at USF and the first African American student in the year 1961. The decision created quite a buzz in the local news, resulting in two months of coverage on Boger.

Accepting a music scholarship to USF, Boger gained entry into various extracurriculars including the Jazz Lab Band and the Concert Band Ensemble. Apart from music related activities, he was also participated in the Russian Language Club, intramural basketball, and became part of a team learning group where the freshman class was divided into four student cohorts. These student groups attended classes together where they were able to bond and support each other. Boger credits these opportunities for forming the supportive peer group that accompanied him from day one all the way through graduation.

Like many college freshman, Boger was unsure about what major he wanted to pursue. It wasn’t until he enrolled in a behavioral sciences prerequisite course that he discovered psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences – a field that blended his interests in science and human interaction. This major not only laid the groundwork for Boger’s career, but also offered him some insight into the political climate during this time.

“I've always been focused on science, but at the same time, I've always been a people person so to speak. My mother co-owned The Tampa Bulletin, then later, The News Reporter, both Black community weekly newspapers, so I grew up in the publishing business dealing with books, deadlines, and people. I thought to myself, ‘Looks like I can combine the two things that I seem to have, a sensitivity for science and interacting with people,’” Boger explained. “Psychology was a great major both in the short and the long run. I think it helped me understand, some of the human dynamics that were going on in the United States and the Civil Rights era. Knowing how to think helped me have a better understanding and acceptance of what was going on at the time.”

Reflecting on his studies, Boger expresses the value of attending USF for his education. Since USF was so new, he had the opportunity to learn from professors who just a year earlier were teaching at esteemed institutions like Florida State University, Harvard, Notre Dame, and Southern California. While studying, Boger also had the opportunity to work as a student assistant under psychology professor, Dr. Margaret B. Fisher.

“Being a student assistant, I was responsible for managing the classrooms during exams. I was able to hand out exams, monitor exams, assist with the management of the classroom, and help provide whatever the instructor needed. It provided me with a sense of responsibility which I think was good because there was nobody that looked like me. I think that probably gave a positive image to those who had never had the opportunity to be around anybody that looked like me. In some ways they were forced to acknowledge that this person has some leadership ability. It was a very positive experience that Dr. Fisher provided me,” Boger said.

Graduating from USF in 1965, Boger went on to serve in the military during the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he achieved his MBA from the University of North Texas and a doctorate in management from Revans International University.

In 1984, Boger made history yet again by becoming the first African American professor in what is now the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management at the University of South Carolina (USC). He was recruited following his roles as a resort manager and director of the National Hotel School of Jamaica in Kingston and as a hospitality and tourism faculty member of the University of the West Indies in Nassau, Bahamas. At USC, Boger managed projects for the department in response to President Regan’s Caribbean Basin Initiative.

Reflecting on his impactful career, Boger emphasizes how his studies at USF played a crucial role in preparing him for his professional journey.

“Hospitality and tourism management is all about the needs and wants of people. My major in psychology gave me the foundation and insight for better understanding human motivations to deliver high quality customer satisfaction, which I imparted to my students. Matriculating through the major, particularly in the Civil Rights era, also gave me critical insights about my own makeup and behavioral characteristics that were vital to maintaining my standard of solid performance at the university and years beyond,” Boger said.

Boger’s journey, marked by achievements in academia and the hospitality and tourism industry, exemplifies his commitment to quality and excellence. Most treasured is his 2022 USF Distinguished Alumni Award. Boger leaves behind a legacy in the history of the Civil Rights Movement and shares his advice for the students of the USF community.

“I didn't intend to make a statement, but if I did, that's great. It's wonderful to be the first, but it's more important, for the, the second, third, tens, hundreds and more that come behind me,” he said. “I hope they will honor my legacy by entering and taking advantage of the opportunities that are available at USF. What will pave the way for a truly outstanding career, as opposed to an ordinary journey, are the ones that can bring something extra to the table. This includes participating in study abroad, industry internships, professional certifications, electives available outside of your major field, student government, and USF organized community volunteer activities. The opportunities are all there, thankfully now for all ethnicities and genders to embrace, but easy to let slip by. As I like to say, ‘Seize the USF moment!’"