Meet Reverend Casper Glenn, a distinguished Lincoln University alumni whose journey since graduating has been nothing short of extraordinary. Rev. Glenn, who celebrates his 102nd birthday in January 2024, has carved a path that inspires and motivates aspiring both Lincoln students and alumni alike.
Casper Glenn, born in Winnsboro, South Carolina, transferred to Lincoln University to study history and philosophy after spending two years at the Presbyterian-organized Coulter Memorial Academy in Cheraw, South Carolina.
In 1946, Glenn received his Bachelor of Divinity at Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was officially ordained in Baltimore Presbytery one year later in 1947.
While at Western, Glenn realized his passion for city work. He eventually served multiple Presbyterian churches nationwide, from Baltimore, Maryland to the Berean Presbyterian Church, the first Black Presbyterian church in New Orleans. Rev. Glenn spent two years at the St. Augustine Presbyterian Church in the Bronx, serving alongside Edler Garnet Hawkins, the first African American to serve as Moderator of the General Assembly for the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA). He later became an executive of a synod, or a group of three or more presbyteries, including Washington state, the northern region of Idaho, and Alaska, spanning across 265 churches and two colleges. Dr. Glenn was also an overseas missionary and an advisor to the churches in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, working with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa and teaching in a theological seminary.
In 1956, Rev. Glenn joined Tuscon’s Southside Presbyterian Church, a multicultural congregation founded in 1906 to serve urban tribal members of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
By the 1960s, Southside was active in the Civil Rights Movement, leading to Rev. Glenn’s involvement in the Tucson Council for Civil Unity and the presidency of the local NAACP chapter (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
In 1959, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Southside and spent a day with Glenn, driving with him to the Tohono O’odham Reservation and the Presbyterian church in Sells to meet with regional tribal leaders. Because of his influence on the region, Tucson became the first U.S. city to adopt a policy of the nondiscrimination of the sale, lease, and rental of housing.
In addition to his professional achievements, Rev. Glenn also received a number of awards from Lincoln University over the years, including the President’s Award for distinguished service. His unwavering dedication to serving communities across the country – and the world – is a testament to the values instilled during his university years and demonstrates the power of education and the profound impact one individual can have on the world. His journey showcases the importance of passion, dedication, and a commitment to creating positive change.
As our university celebrates its alumni, Rev. Casper Glenn stands out as a shining example of the incredible possibilities that can unfold when education is coupled with a sense of purpose. His legacy inspires current and future students, reminding them that the pursuit of knowledge is not merely an academic endeavor but a catalyst for meaningful change in the world.
“Lincoln will always have a place in my heart. I will always remember my years there, it was a great experience.” - Rev. Glenn
