Benjamin Franklin Hilbun (November 14, 1890 – December 13, 1963)^[1] was the President of the Mississippi State College during its name change to Mississippi State University from 1953–1960.^[2] Dr. Hilbun was a long time employee of Mississippi State having served on the faculty at MSU from 1925 until his retirement as President in 1960.^[3]

Hilbun supported the legal degradation of African-American citizens. As president of the university, Hilbun did not permit its athletic teams to play against teams with African-American players or participate in post-season tournaments that welcomed African-American players. While Mississippi State's basketball team qualified for the 1959 NCAA basketball tournament, Hilbun forbade the team from entering.^[4] Mississippi State University honored Hilbun by naming the Departments of Geosciences and Physics & Astronomy building Hilbun Hall.^[5][6]