Member of Memphis State Eight dies
Ralph Prater, one of the Memphis State Eight, the first group of Black students to attend the University of Memphis, has died. He was 81. (Courtesy University of Memphis)
“Ralph’s impact on our institution and community is immeasurable, and we will forever celebrate his remarkable courage and legacy,” the University of Memphis wrote in a tweet.
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Memphis State Eight Ralph Prater Civil Rights segregationAarron Fleming
Once an intern, he never left, joining the staff full-time in 2022 as an education reporter. He moved to public safety in 2023, where he covered some of the city’s biggest court cases, including the criminal trials for those charged in the deaths of Tyré Nichols and rapper Young Dolph. He also chronicled the Shelby County Jail and the deaths that have occurred at the facility.
He now provides suburban coverage, focusing on DeSoto County and the surrounding municipalities.
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