The Gene DeGruson Lecture is an annual lecture hosted at Leonard H. Axe Library. This lecture, named after the late Gene DeGruson, past Dean of the Library, features a guest speaker for a chosen topic. Past topics include: Gordon Parks, Tar Creek, Freethinkers, Gene DeGruson, the Little Balkans Review, and more. For this lecture, Marla Day of K-State and the Historic Costume and Textile Museum was invited to speak on Nell "Nelly Don" Donnelly Reed, a fashion designer from Parsons, Kansas.

The Gene DeGruson Lecture took place on October 10, 2024.