Dr. William Madison Boyd (1916-1956) was an educator, chairman of the Political Science Department, fellow in the Carnegie Corporation, president of the Georgia NAACP, analyst for WERD radio news, and international lecturer. Born the seventh of eight children in Morehead City, North Carolina, Boyd’s early life was shaped by his mother, a homemaker, and his father, who owned the U.S. Boyd Company, a shrimp and oyster shipping business. After attending public schools and a year at a community college, Boyd moved on to Talladega College in Alabama, where he excelled as president of the student body, the debate team, and the NAACP chapter. He graduated in 1937 with a Bachelor’s degree in history and went on to earn a PhD in political science from the University of Michigan. Boyd married Betty Lewis (later Mapp) in 1940, and they had two sons, William Jr. and Robert. Boyd’s academic excellence was rewarded with fellowships from the Rosenwald and Carnegie Foundations, which allowed him to study social and economic conditions in Europe. He later joined the faculty at Atlanta University as head of the political science department, where he published numerous articles, including “The Second Emancipation” (1953), which analyzed the implications of Brown v. Board of Education and called for continued efforts toward racial equality.

Boyd’s activism extended beyond academia into civil rights and politics. As president of the Georgia NAACP, he worked closely with figures like Thurgood Marshall and Whitney Young to advance desegregation and voter registration efforts. Known as a fearless advocate for civil rights, Boyd used platforms such as WERD radio to rally the African-American community in Atlanta and across Georgia. He organized fundraising campaigns and voter drives, often speaking in churches to encourage civic participation. Boyd also mentored students at Atlanta University, including Horace T. Ward, whom he helped in the legal battle to challenge segregation at the University of Georgia. Despite facing significant personal and professional challenges, Boyd remained committed to justice and equality. Tragically, his life was cut short by leukemia in 1956, but his legacy endures through institutions such as the William M. Boyd Collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library and the William Madison Boyd Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Source:https://footsoldier.uga.edu/william-madison-boyd/)