As we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jeff Koopman ’67 shares a powerful memory that has stayed with him for more than five decades: the unforgettable moment he saw King speak in person.
Witnessing King's Speech
While attending law school at Ohio Northern University, Koopman had the rare opportunity to witness King deliver a speech that would become one of his last. It was a cold day on October 9, 1967, and the auditorium was filled with anticipation.
"He was so unpretentious," Koopman recalls. "He just walked out on stage, one or two friends with him, and then he spoke. His voice, his message — it was incredible."
Nonviolence and Courage
King's baritone voice resonated throughout the room, commanding attention and respect. Koopman was struck not only by the depth of his voice but by the profound message King delivered, speaking about the necessity of nonviolent resistance and the courage required for true change.
"He said, 'You cannot use immoral means to achieve moral ends,' and that was his cornerstone for nonviolence," Koopman remembers. "He also acknowledged that he probably wouldn’t live a long life but that the struggle was worth it."
King's Prophetic Words
Koopman was deeply moved by King's presence and message, which carried even more significance given the moment in history. The speech came just months before King was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968, but his vision for nonviolence and justice remained clear. "He was already talking about being at peace with his work, even though he was so young — only 39 when he was killed."
The experience profoundly shaped Koopman's perspective on justice and courage. "Dr. King wasn’t just a figurehead; he was an incredibly brave man, standing against everything the status quo was trying to preserve," he says. "He gave his life to a cause that was bigger than himself, and that’s something that always stayed with me."
A Timeless Legacy
King's legacy continues to inspire people like Koopman, who in his own way has spent a lifetime leading with integrity, courage, and compassion. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded that King's words were not just a call to action in the 1960s — they are a timeless reminder to all of us that "to effect change, you must be brave."
Koopman, who received a B.A. in international relations and is now retired after a long career in retail management, credits his time at Lehigh with shaping the values that led him to always "look for ways to help others." He honors King's message by continuing to live with purpose, knowing that service to others is the key to creating lasting change.
