 In what history professor Donald E. Reynolds termed "the most statesmanlike address of his entire presidency", Gee informed all college employees of imminent integration at a meeting, stressing his expectation that everyone would comply entirely with the new policy.In his own words, he declared it "my devout wish and fervent prayer that the integration of this college will come about in an orderly manner".Commerce resident Velma Waters became the first African American undergraduate student at ETSC, while Charles Garwin became the first African American graduate student and the first to graduate when he obtained his degree in January 1966.