He was the first Black Catholic priest from North American and not the first anywhere. He was obviously very intelligent, very dedicated, and very spiritual. He did have to endure a lot of discrimination.

However, one measure of his eventual triumph is the fact that the soon to be constructed Catholic High School in Columbia, MO (Diocese of Jefferson City) is to be named the Fr. Tolton High School. The school will certainly be open to students of all races, but likely the majority of the students will be white.

J.Y.