Former SSU student, Army veteran Melvin Bostic’s legacy lives on with residence hall dedication

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Tiger Court Residence Hall on Savannah State University’s campus is officially renamed to the Bostic Residence Hall to honor former Savannah State University student and Army veteran Melvin Bostic.

Bostic was standing at Abercorn Street and Victory Drive in October of 1972, collecting donations during an annual scholarship drive for the institution. Eyewitnesses said someone driving by grabbed his donation cup and took off while Bostic fought to get it back. After around 60 feet of struggling, he fell and hit his head, and then the car ran over him.

His untimely death while serving the university is why family and friends were on campus Tuesday for the unveiling.

“That’s what we do here at the university – we not only serve the community, our students, our family, our other alums,“ said SSU National Alumni Association President Harold N. Washington. ”That’s why it was very important that we made sure that we continue his legacy.”

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There was a Bostic Hall here for years, but it was demolished earlier this year. SSU President Dr. Jermaine Whirl said it was demolished because of the condition it was in, and it would have cost them more to renovate it where they could.

Washington said he lived in that residence hall when he attended SSU.

“As a former member of Bostic Hall, I stayed in Bostic 106. This is a very special day. Not just for me but all alumni in our entire Savannah State family,” said Washington.

Thousands of people and alumni reached out to the university in support of finding a new way to honor Bostic after it was announced they were demolishing the original residence hall, according to Whirl.

“To be able to do that today in one of our most recently built residence halls is a phenomenal blessing, and I’m excited about it,” said Whirl.

University leaders say they will continue to honor Bostic’s life in other ways – including fundraising opportunities in the future.