Pike County students get their diplomas nearly 50 years later

It was a long time coming for the Pike County Consolidated High School senior class of 1969 to receive their diplomas.

Nearly 50 years.

On Saturday, about 40 men and women attended a ceremony where they were handed their diplomas. The school district’s superintendent refused to give the students their diplomas for holding a peaceful march in April 1969 to protest what they felt were discriminatory school district policies.

“We had no regrets ... because we made the right decision,” said Mildred Favors Dixon.