10 Facts About Kenneth Jernigan

Norman Kenneth Jernigan was the longtime leader of the National Federation of the Blind, the largest and oldest blind people's organization in the United States.

Kenneth Jernigan was born blind in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up on a farm in Tennessee.

Kenneth Jernigan moved to Oakland, California in 1953 and joined the faculty of the newly established California Orientation Center for Blind Adults.

In 1958, Jernigan moved to Iowa to become director of the Iowa Commission for the Blind.

In 1968, Kenneth Jernigan was presented with a citation from President Lyndon Johnson for his outstanding work.

Also in 1968, Kenneth Jernigan became President of the National Federation of the Blind upon the death of founder Jacobus tenBroek.

Kenneth Jernigan briefly stepped down in 1977 for health reasons, but was reelected the following year.

Kenneth Jernigan remained in that position until 1986, when he decided to retire and was succeeded by Marc Maurer, who held the position until 2014.

Kenneth Jernigan relocated from Iowa to Baltimore, Maryland in 1978 and became executive director for the American Brotherhood for the Blind and Director of the National Center for the Blind.

Kenneth Jernigan continued as the political leader of the organization for the rest of his life.