[10] DeWolf became Martin Luther King Jr.'s dissertation adviser at Boston University following the death of Brightman.

In his 1955 reader's report, DeWolf concluded that King's work promised to be "an excellent and useful scholarly achievement.

"[10] In a 1955 letter to his former adviser King wrote: "Both your stimulating lectures and your profound ideas will remain with me so long as the cords of memory shall lengthen.

[9] DeWolf spoke at King's funeral on 9 April 1968, calling him "an exemplar of faith, hope, and love.

"[12] DeWolf later testified before the United States Congress as part of the efforts to have a national holiday honoring King established.