Romeo M. Williams
Romeo Marcus Williams (June 4, 1919 – August 16, 1960) was an American civil rights attorney who organized large-scale student protests against segregation in
Williams was also a
Early life, family
Williams was born on June 4, 1919, in
Williams had two siblings: Milton Williams Jr. and Joseph Williams.[3] After Milton's Sr.'s death in 1966 and Josie's death in 1975, Milton Williams Jr. ran the family's funeral business until his death in 1992.[4] William's Jr.'s son, Milton Williams III, an U.S. Air Force Captain and missile crew commander, ran the family business until his death in 2014.[4] Milton Williams III's wife, Julia Frilot Williams, manages the business with her daughter Kelli.[4]
In 1933, Williams completed Marshall Public Schools' grade school, and enrolled at H. B. Pemberton High School. An exceptional student, Williams played saxophone in the school's band, and played on the American football and baseball teams.[3][1]
Williams attend
Though he briefly worked at his family's funeral business after graduating from Bishop College, Williams set his sights on becoming a fighter pilot after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[3]
On June 10, 1951, Williams married Edith Arbuckle Williams in
Military career
In 1942, he became the first African American in East Texas youth to pass the
, he transported various aircraft across the United States.On September 15, 1945, he was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.[3]
Post-Military, Career as Civil Rights Attorney
After his discharge he planned to attend law school. However, at the time, no schools in Texas admitted African Americans.[6]
Nonetheless, Williams moved to
In 1956, Williams moved back to Marshall, Texas to establish his own civil rights law practice next door to his family's funeral home.[8][1][3]
Between March and August 1960, Williams helped organized large student courthouse marches and sit-ins of
Death, Desegregation in Marshall, Texas
On August 16, 1960, Williams defended students in Marshall, Texas who were arrested while participating in civil rights
Williams' family funeral home held Williams' funeral at Marshall's New Bethel Baptist Church.[8] Bishop College President Milton K. Curry performed the eulogy.[1] Williams was interred on his family's plot at Powder Mill Cemetery in Marshall.
On December 14, 1960, Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas reversed and dismissed all convictions against the students.[1] Soon after, Marshall desegregated all public facilities.[8][1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Texas State Historical Association. "Williams, Romeo Marcus (1919–1960)." Peggy Hardman. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/williams-romeo-marcus
- ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m East Texas Historical Journal. "Romeo M. Williams: Tuskegee Airman and Civil Rights Lawyer." Milton H. Williams III . Volume 43 Issue 1 Article 6. 3-2005.
- ^ a b c d e Peoples Funeral Home: Marshall's Oldest Family Owned Funeral Home." https://www.peoplesfh.com/about-us
- ^ CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/ . This data derives from CAF Rise Above's research project compiling data from Tuskegee Airmen historians including the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- University of Texas's Law School based on his race, won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court lawsuit, Sweatt v. Painter. List of Historically Black Law Schools. Jane Schmidt. https://www.theclassroom.com/hbcu-law-schools-6535665.html
- ^ J.L. Turner Legal Association Foundation. http://www.jlturnerfoundation.org/john-lewis-turner--jr..html
- ^ a b c d e "Accidental Death Takes Civil Rights Attorney in 1960".