Volma Overton

Volma Overton (September 26, 1924 – October 31, 2005) was an African-American civil rights activist and president of NAACP's Austin, Texas chapter from 1962 to 1983.[2][3] He is best known for his legal efforts to end racial segregation in Austin schools.[4]

Volma Robert Overton
Born(1924-09-26)September 26, 1924
Maha, Texas
DiedOctober 31, 2005(2005-10-31) (aged 81)
Austin, Texas
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationBS in chemistry
Alma materTillotson College
OccupationCivil rights activist, marine, postmaster
EmployerUnited States Marine Corps,
United States Army Reserves,
United States Postal Service
Known forEfforts to end racial segregation in Austin schools
MovementCivil Rights Movement
Spouse(s)
Warneta Hill (m. 1946)
Children1 son, 3 daughters
RelativesRichard Overton (cousin)[1]

Overton was born in Maha in the rural southeast of Travis County.[4] He served in the Marines in World War II,[1] then in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4] After World War II, he attended Tillotson College (now part of Huston-Tillotson University from 1947 to 1950 where he earned a B.S. degree in chemistry with a minor in math.[2] He also met his wife, Warneta while studying there.[4] They had four children, who were often involved in Overton's civil rights work; their daughter DeDra was named the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit he led to desegregate Austin schools.[4] The lawsuit lasted a decade and Overton, backed by the NAACP Legal Defense, the U.S. Justice Department and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, ultimately prevailed.[4]

References
  1. Izadi, Elahe (November 11, 2014). "Meet America's oldest living vet. He smokes cigars, does yard work, drives and drinks whiskey. And he's 108". Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  2. Overton, Johnnie M. (June 13, 2013). "Overton, Volma Robert, Sr.". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. Civil Rights: From Black & White to Color (PDF) (DVD set). Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. March 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-11-05. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  4. Smith, Amy (November 11, 2005). "Local Civil Rights Hero Overton Dies". Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  5. Jones, Carolyn L (1998). Volma: My Journey: One man's impact on the civil rights movement in Austin, Texas (1st ed.). Austin, Texas: Eakin Press. p. 158. ISBN 9781571682185.
  6. "OVERTON, VOLMA ROBERT, SR". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. "Zoning Change Review Sheet". Austin Texas. 17 November 2008.
  8. Courtesy Huston-Tillotson University Archives, Austin, TX, USA. Letter from John. G. Evans to Mr. Volma R. Overton, Box 2, Folder 4, Huston-Tilotson University Archives, Downs-Johns Library, Huston-Tilotson University, Austin, TX
  9. ""AISD breaks ground for Volma Overton Elementary School,"". The Villager. 34 (7). 2006.
  10. Overton, Volma. "Volma Overton Papers An Inventory of the Collection". legacy.lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  11. "New LBJ Award for Leadership in Civil Rights to be presented March 25". UT News. 23 March 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.