Park Cities in Dallas in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Martin Luther King Jr. at SMU

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, June 29, 2023

1. Martin Luther King Jr. at SMU Marker

Inscription. SMU students were becoming more active in Civil Rights when at least 50 traveled from Dallas to march from Selma to Montgomery in March 1965. A few months later, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted an invitation to the campus from the SMU Student Senate. On March 17, 1966, he spoke to a crowd of 2,700 at McFarlin Auditorium. Citing history and longstanding challenges, he listed practical reasons why segregation should end before stating, "In the final analysis, racial injustice must be uprooted from American society because it is morally wrong." Dr. King received a standing ovation in his first Texas visit to a predominantly white university. His speech influenced many to engage in movements for equality on campus, in their city and in the nation.

Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23340.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical date for this entry is March 17, 1966.

Location. 32° 50.661′ N, 96° 47.142′ W. Marker is in Dallas, Texas, in Dallas County. It is in Park Cities. It is on Boaz Street 0.1 miles south of

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University Blvd, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6405 Boaz St, Dallas TX 75205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dallas Hall Southern Methodist University (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Daniel Family Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Highland Park Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); Highland Park Methodist Church Building (approx. half a mile away); Mark and Maybelle Lemmon House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Preston Road (approx. 1.3 miles away); Caruth House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Dr. Marcellus Clayton Cooper (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dallas.

Also see . . . Marked by History.

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, June 29, 2023

2. Martin Luther King Jr. at SMU Marker

In February 2023, SMU President R. Gerald Turner, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Richie Butler ’93, SMU students who pursued the historic designation and the St. Luke Community UMC Choir held a ceremony to unveil the new Texas Historical Marker that would be placed on campus in front of the McFarlin Auditorium. Video from ceremony is included.

Butler, SMU alumnus and trustee, senior pastor of St. Luke Community UMC and founder of Project Unity, gave a moving speech on the legacy and long-term impact of King’s visit to campus. The event also recognized the SMU students who made it happen — both then and now.

(Submitted on June 29, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas.)

Photographed by Morgan Petermann, June 29, 2023

3. Martin Luther King Jr. at SMU Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Hurst, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.