Black History in the Making: Cleo Thomas and Elliot Spillers

In March 2015, Elliot Spillers became the University of Alabama's first black Student Government Association president in four decades!

Spillers said he had tried a run twice before but never lost hope.

The first black SGA president was Cleo Thomas, who was elected in 1976. Thomas went on to serve on the University of Alabama board of trustees for approximately 20 years. He continues to live and fulfill philanthropic efforts in Anniston.