Royal L. Bolling
Royal Lee Bolling, Sr. | |
---|---|
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the Second Suffolk district | |
In office 1983–1988 | |
Preceded by | Bill Owens |
Succeeded by | Bill Owens |
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
In office 1971–1974 | |
Preceded by | Michael E. Haynes |
Succeeded by | Seat eliminated |
In office 1961–1968 | |
Preceded by | George Green / Oswald Jordan |
Succeeded by | Seat eliminated |
Personal details | |
Born | Boston University Law School | June 19, 1920
Royal Lee Bolling (June 19, 1920 – July 16, 2002) was a Massachusetts politician and head of a prominent African-American political family. While serving in the
Bolling was a decorated World War II veteran, earning a Silver Star as a member of the segregated "Buffalo Soldiers" 92nd infantry division. He was also the founder of a successful real estate business, which he ran for 50 years.
Early life and education
Bolling was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, to Granville and Irene Bolling. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Framingham, Massachusetts. He grew up in a small yellow house on Walnut Street near Bowditch Field. He first showed a talent for politics when he ran for president of his predominantly white Framingham High School class and obtained endorsements from Massachusetts governor Leverett Saltonstall and Boston Mayor James Michael Curley. He became the school's first African-American class president and was re-elected twice before graduating in 1940.[1][2][3]
He attended Howard University for a time, performing as a
Military service
In 1943, Bolling joined the segregated
Political career
In 1961 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he served six two-year terms.[1] He represented the 11th Suffolk District (Ward 12) from 1961 to 1964 and the 7th Suffolk District from 1965 to 1968 and 1971 to 1974 (Wards 9 and 12 from 1961 to 1968 and Wards 8, 9, and 12 from 1971 to 1974).[4][5][6] After a failed run in 1974, he ran again and in 1982 he was elected to the Massachusetts Senate, where he represented the Second Suffolk District from 1983 to 1988.[7][8] He was defeated in the 1988 primary election by his longtime rival Bill Owens.
Bolling authored over 200 legislative initiatives in the course of his career.
In 1985 he sponsored the bill to redevelop the grounds of
He was a member of the
Personal life
He married Thelma "Angela" Greene in 1943 and had 12 children.[10] His first son, Royal L. Bolling Jr., served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives; his second son, Bruce Bolling, was Boston's first African-American City Council president.[2]
Bolling's wife died of pancreatic cancer in 2002. A month later, Bolling died at his vacation home in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, also of pancreatic cancer.[3]
Memorials
Senator Bolling Circle in
See also
- 1963–1964 Massachusetts legislature
- 1971–1972 Massachusetts legislature
- 1973–1974 Massachusetts legislature
References
- ^ a b c d "Before Barack, there was Bolling". MetroWest Daily News. Jan 18, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sen. Royal Bolling Was Distinguished Legislator". The Vineyard Gazette. July 22, 2002.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bolling Family Patriarch Dies: Royal Bolling Sr. Dead at 82". The Boston Globe. July 19, 2002.
- ^ "Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1967-1968". Internet Archive.
- ^ "Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1969-1970". Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1973-1974". Internet Archive.
- ^ "Public officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1987-1988". Internet Archive.
- ^ "Bolling, Sr., Royal L." OurCampaigns.com.
- ^ "Boston Before Busing: Racial Imbalance Act". Northeastern University Archives.
- ^ a b c "Senator's Legacy Graces Street". The Boston Globe. June 16, 2006.
- ^ "Ground Broken for 41 New Mixed-Income Townhouses in Mattapan". Boston Real Estate Times. August 15, 2017.
Further reading
- Hargrove, Hondon B. (2016). Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II. McFarland. p. 53. ISBN 9781476621517.
- ISBN 9780896081055.
Royal Bolling.
- "Royal L. Bolling Sr. 1920-2002". JSTOR 3134205.
- "Royal Bolling". Boston TV News Digital Library.