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Dr. Don Tharpe ’74 ’75, president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, will be honored during Murray State University’s December Commencement exercises as the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus recipient.

Established in 1976, the CBCF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute focused on leadership education, public health, economic development and African globalism. Operating with a 34-member board and an operating budget of approximately $10 million, the CBCF works to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative, and public policy arenas.

Tharpe’s career in association management spans more than 25 years. Prior to joining CBCF, Tharpe served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Council on Foundations in Washington, D.C., and was responsible for the management of the Council’s internal operations. An association of more than 2,000 grant makers whose members include independent and corporate foundations, the COF operates with a staff of 110 and an operating budget of approximately $16 million.

In Tharpe’s current role with CBCF, he oversees management of ongoing efforts to effect positive and sustainable change in targeted communities while strategically positioning the organization to align with key partners who will support its mission and goals. “We have awarded over $400,000 in scholarships in the past year to help African-American students receive a college education, while also ensuring their future as African-American leaders,” he said. “We also help students advance their educational opportunities through internships for undergraduate and graduate students.”

In addition to the yearly scholarship awards, Tharpe said the foundation has awarded over $7 million in scholarships in the last 25 years. “What I have noticed in this role, there has been a lot of work completed, but there is still much work to be done,” he said. “We are continuing to work on the hill at the Foundation to close the gap.”

Prior to Tharpe’s position with CBCF, he served over 12 years as the executive director of the Association of School Business Officials International. Also a former senior executive with the American Vocational Association, Tharpe was employed at the Missouri State Department of Education as its director of trade and vocational education.

The former executive director for the Association of School Business Officials International in Reston, Va., Tharpe serves on the American Society of Association Executives, and the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives. He has also served on the National Policy Board for Educational Administration, a coalition of 10 major education organizations which plans to establish national certification criteria for school executives.

Tharpe returned to this year’s Murray State University “Reflections” Homecoming festivities to help commemorate the 50-year celebration of the African-American legacy.

A native of Mayfield, Ky., Tharpe was the keynote speaker at the African-American historical dedication marker ceremony. “When I attended Murray State it was at a time that there had not been many African-Americans before me and I could not have felt more comfortable. It was an unforgettable experience for me”

A graduate of Mayfield High School, Tharpe said his MSU education has provided him with the skills for his new position on Capitol Hill. “It’s a long journey from Mayfield to Washington’s Massachusetts Avenue,” he said.

Tharpe said when he showed up at Murray State with $200 in his check book, he wasn’t really sure how he was going to obtain his education. “However, after speaking to Johnny McDougal, who was the financial aid director, he was able to help me obtain jobs on campus to help me pay for my education,” he said. “I was a student graduate assistant in the industrial arts department and was also able to work as a Springer Hall dorm counselor and receive my room and board.”

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Tharpe believes that showing up is 90 percent of the game. “Always keep your eye on the prize,” Tharpe said. “It is people at MSU like Mr. McDougal who reach out to one student at a time that has made such a difference in my life.”

As Tharpe continues to help the African-American population through the CBCF and the Asian and Hispanic Caucuses, he knows he can’t provide opportunities for these future leaders in one day. “We are chipping away slowly and progress is being made.”

Tharpe and his wife, Linda, a 1974 MSU graduate, live in Oak Hill, Va. They have two children, Justin and Adrienne.