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CAIN & CAIN ENTERPRISES

Bobby Cain became the first African American student to graduate from a
public formally segregated white high school in Tennessee during the
immediate controversial years of integration following the U.S. Supreme Court
decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Today he considers it "a
great honor-a great achievement," but on August 27, 1956, when Clinton High
School opened as a desegregated school, Cain did not feel heroic. The only
black senior eligible to graduate, he knew segregationists meant to stop him
from achieving a high school diploma. David J. Brittain, Clinton High School
principal in the 1950s, recognized the danger of allowing Cain to go through
the graduation ceremonies and feared for his life. To protect Cain, Brittain
organized a student patrol. Cain's proud father and mother accompanied him
to the ceremony, but he had to go alone to change into his cap and gown. At
that point, the student patrol acted as Cain's protection from would-be
attackers. Bobby Cain graduated with his class. In 1961 Mr. Cain graduated
from Tennessee State University with a bachelor's degree in social work. He
later completed course work toward a master's degree.
After college graduation he was employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory
before being drafted into the army.

Mr. Cain served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1965. He was stationed as a
recruiter in downtown Spoken Washington. He received an Honorable
Discharged as Specialist Four in 1965. Bobby served in the United States
Army Reserve from 1977 to 1993 wherein he retired as a Captain from the 306
Medical Clearing Company Army Reserve. Before retirement, he served in the
Desert Storm Operations. Bobby is presently a Lieutenant Colonel in the
Tennessee State Guards (Volunteer Service). Now after retiring in May of 2002
after 30 + years of service being employed as a Supervisor for the State of
Tennessee Department of Human Services in the Family Assistance Program,
Cain is more willing to talk of his experiences after years of reticence. His wife
Margo and their daughter Yvette Yolanda, a Nashville attorney, first learned
the details of his achievement from others. In his view, the strong support of
family and school encouraged him to stand fast in the fight for school
desegregation in Tennessee.Bobby continues to be recognized for his
steadfast actions displayed during the 1956-57 desegregation of Clinton High
School. He has received proclamations from former Governors of Tennessee:
Governor Don Sundiquist, Governors Ed McWhorter and presently Governor
Phil Bresdensen, He has also received a proclamation from the State of
Tennessee Honorable Senator Thelma Harper, a Distinguished Service
Recognition by the Honorable Bob Clement of the 5th Congressional District
of Tennessee; Certificate of Merit Recognition by the State of Tennessee
Honorable Edith Taylor Langseter, member of the House of Representative in
the State of Tennessee.

BOBBY CAIN

1957

Present