Oh, Coretta!

Three friends who were recent Antioch College graduates moved to Boston, Massachusetts from Yellow Springs, Ohio circa 1950. One was Coretta Scott, New England Conservatory of Music transfer student. The others were Charles P. Rippey, first year Harvard University law student, and his then-wife. 

 Coretta Scott met Martin Luther King, Jr. in Boston. 

Coretta Scott introduced taciturn laconic, modest MLK (5'7") to the Rippeys. 

Mrs. Rippey told her, "Oh, Coretta, you can do much better than that!"* 

Coretta and Martin were recently honored with a sculpture in Boston. Their love lives on. 

* My source: the late Charles P. Rippey, who went on to a distinguished career in the Navy JAG Corps, Department of Labor Solicitor's Office, and served as a USDOL Administrative Law Judge. After his divorce, Mr. Rippey came out as Gay, the partner of Dr. Sigmund Dragustin, NIMH psychiatrist. Judge Rippey was a beloved mentor at the United States Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges, where I was honored to clerk for him and for Chief Judge Nahum Litt.