Joe Lampley is a 1976 Deans List graduate of Tuskegee University with a degree in political science and minors in history and philosophy.

Lampley is a native of Brundidge, who realized early in life that an education was the path to his future he wanted to achieve and Tuskegee University was the stepping stone for the journey ahead.

After graduation and a successful career as an attorney and the realization of his goal, Lampley said the path he had taken through Tuskegee University was the opportunity for those members of his family and for other young people who wanted to achieve their goals in life. However, many of them needed financial support to follow and achieve their plans for successful careers.

On June 24, 2022, Lampley sent an email to Dr. Charlotte Morris, president, Tuskegee University that read, “I want to give the University one hundred thousand dollars.”

On Saturday June 25, a member of the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee went to Lampley’s home to pick up the check. In presenting the check, Lampley said he wanted 50 percent of the donation to go to the Athletic Department and 50 percent to fund students’ scholarship and grants.

Lampley said he wanted the money to help students that best resembled his family and himself as they began their college journeys at Tuskegee University. His father, Hurrie D. Lampley, who is deceased, and his mother, 92-year-old Ola Mae Lampley didn’t have the opportunity to attend college.

“The highest levels of education my parents completed were the sixth grade for my father and ninth grade for my mother,” Lampley said. “My father was industrious and a hard worker and my mother worked by his side in our large agriculture operation in the small town of Brundidge.’

Lampley is the fourth of 11 children and he became his dad’s right-hand man on the farm, which meant he had to miss many days of school, especially at harvest time.

In 1972, Lampley enrolled at Tuskegee Institute on a National Defense Student Loan of $500 per semester. That wasn’t enough money to pay his way so he decided to show up and try out for the football team.

“God was with me,” Lampley said. “I made the team and played in the first game of the season, against Southern University in Crampton Bowl Stadium in Montgomery.”

An opportunity for Lampley came when he made several big plays and had a big freshman year. Later in the season, Lampley suffered a career-ending knee injury. He later was given an Army ROTC Scholarship and later served as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve.

Lampley’s interest in pursuing a degree in law surfaced and he enrolled in Southern University School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree. He attended Southern Law School, Howard University School of Law, Southern University School of Law. In May, 1979, Lampley graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree.

“My philosophy has always been “do what you can and leave the rest to God,” Lampley said. “I also believe in not trying not to cross a bridge until I come to it.”

And, Lampley realizes that an education is most important so he has encourages his brothers and sisters to find what they want to do in life and be what that they want to be. Reach for the stars and never give up because you never know just how close you are.

Attorney Joe Lampley continues to support his alma mater, Tuskegee University, with donations in support of both academics and athletics.

In the last months of 2024, Lampley donated a combined total of $80,000 to academics and athletics a Tuskegee University.

His donation to Tuskegee’s University Memorial Depositor was $65,000 and $15,000 to the Attorney Joe Lampley Endowed Scholarship.

Lampley said education in all areas continues to provide opportunities for all of America’s people. There is nothing else that can and will have such positive effects on every facet of life.