PoliticalGraveyard.com
The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History
Politicians Who Received the Spingarn Medal
(Awarded annually by the N.A.A.C.P. for achievement by a black American)


in chronological order

  William Henry Hastie (1904-1976) — also known as William H. Hastie — of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa. Born in Knoxville, Knox County, Tenn., November 17, 1904. Son of William Henry Hastie and Roberta (Child) Hastie. Lawyer; law professor; U.S. District Judge for Virgin Islands, 1937-39; dean, Howard University law school, 1939-46; Governor of U.S. Virgin Islands, 1946-49; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, 1949-71; took senior status 1971. African ancestry. Member, Phi Beta Kappa; Omega Psi Phi; Freemasons; American Civil Liberties Union; Americans for Democratic Action. Received Spingarn Medal in 1943. Died, at Suburban General Hospital, East Norriton, Montgomery County, Pa., April 14, 1976 (age 71 years, 149 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, December 25, 1943, to Beryl Lockhart.
  See also Wikipedia article
  Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) — also known as Thoroughgood Marshall — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Born in Baltimore, Md., July 2, 1908. Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, 1961-65; U.S. Solicitor General, 1965-67; Justice of U.S. Supreme Court, 1967-91. Episcopalian. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; NAACP; National Bar Association; Alpha Phi Alpha; American Civil Liberties Union. Received Spingarn Medal in 1946 First African-American Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Died, from a heart attack, in the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Montgomery County, Md., January 24, 1993 (age 84 years, 206 days). Interment at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.; memorial monument at Lawyers' Mall, Annapolis, Md.
  Relatives: Married, September 4, 1929, to Vivien Burey (died 1955); married, December 17, 1955, to Cecilia Suyat; father of Thurgood Marshall, Jr.. See Marshall family of New York.
  Cross-reference: William Curtis Bryson
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Books about Thurgood Marshall: Juan Williams, Thurgood Marshall : American Revolutionary — Randall W. Bland, Justice Thurgood Marshall, Crusader for Liberalism : His Judicial Biography — Mark V. Tushnet, Making Constitutional Law: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court, 1961-1991 — Mark V. Tushnet, Making Civil Rights Law: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court, 1936-1961
  Paul Revere Williams (1894-1980) — also known as Paul R. Williams — of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif., February 18, 1894. Son of C. S. Williams and Lila A. (Wright) Williams. Republican. Architect; first African-American architect west of the Mississippi, and first to be member of the American Institute of Architects; designed many Southern California landmarks, including the homes of Hollywood celebrities; received the Spingarn Medal in 1953; delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1952, 1960; member, California Housing Commission and California Civil Rights Commission. African ancestry. Member, American Institute of Architects; Freemasons. Died, from diabetes, in California Hospital, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif., January 23, 1980 (age 85 years, 339 days). Interment at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Calif.
  Presumably named for: Paul Revere
  Relatives: Married, June 27, 1917, to Della Mae Givens (1895-1996).
  See also Wikipedia article — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Robert Clifton Weaver (1907-1997) — also known as Robert C. Weaver — of Washington, D.C.; Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Born in Washington, D.C., December 29, 1907. Son of Mortimer G. Weaver and Florence (Freeman) Weaver. Economist; received the Spingarn Medal in 1962; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 1966-68; first black cabinet member; president, Baruch College, 1969; trustee, Mount Sinai Medical Center. Methodist. African ancestry. Member, NAACP; Americans for Democratic Action. The H.U.D. Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. was named for him in 2000. Died in Manhattan, New York County, N.Y., July 17, 1997 (age 89 years, 200 days). Burial location unknown.
  Relatives: Married, July 19, 1935, to Ella V. Hiath (c.1911-1991).
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier
  Edward William Brooke III (b. 1919) — also known as Edward W. Brooke — of Newton Center, Newton, Middlesex County, Mass. Born in Washington, D.C., October 26, 1919. Son of Edward W. Brooke and Helen (Seldon) Brooke. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; lawyer; candidate for secretary of state of Massachusetts, 1960; Massachusetts state attorney general, 1963-67; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1967-79; defeated, 1978. Episcopalian. African ancestry. Member, American Bar Association; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Amvets; Alpha Phi Alpha. First black U.S. Senator in the 20th century; recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1967. Still living as of 2009.
  Relatives: Married, June 7, 1947, to Remigia Ferrari Scacco.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier
  Andrew Jackson Young, Jr. (b. 1932) — also known as Andy Young — of Atlanta, Fulton County, Ga. Born in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., March 12, 1932. Democrat. Ordained minister; one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1957; close advisor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. until his assassination; U.S. Representative from Georgia 5th District, 1973-77; defeated, 1970; U.S. Representative to United Nations, 1977-79; mayor of Atlanta, Ga., 1982-90; candidate in primary for Governor of Georgia, 1990. United Church of Christ. African ancestry. Member, Council on Foreign Relations; Freemasons. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1978; received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981. Still living as of 2009.
  Presumably named for: Andrew Jackson
  Relatives: Married 1954 to Jean Childs (died 1994); married, March 24, 1996, to Carolyn Watson.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Coleman Alexander Young (1918-1997) — also known as Coleman A. Young — of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Born in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, Ala., May 24, 1918. Son of Coleman Young and Ida (Jones) Young. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; national representative, UAW-CIO, 1946-47; director of organization, Wayne County CIO Council, 1947-48; executive secretary, National Negro Labor Council, 1951-55; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1959, 1962 (Democratic primary); delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from Wayne County 9th District, 1961-62; member of Michigan state senate 4th District, 1965-73; defeated (Progressive), 1948; resigned 1973; member of Democratic National Committee from Michigan, 1969-81; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1996; speaker, 1984, 1988; mayor of Detroit, Mich., 1974-93; Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1992; defeated (Democratic), 1988. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; NAACP. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1981. Died, of emphysema, while hospitalized for heart problems, at Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., November 29, 1997 (age 79 years, 189 days). Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Mich.
  Relatives: Father of Coleman A. Young II.
  Cross-reference: Conrad L. Mallett, Jr.
  Books by Coleman A. Young: Hard Stuff : The Autobiography of Coleman Young (1994)
  Books about Coleman A. Young: Wilbur C. Rich, Coleman Young and Detroit Politics : From Social Activist to Power Broker
  Thomas Bradley (1917-1998) — also known as Tom Bradley — of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in Calvert, Robertson County, Tex., December 29, 1917. Son of Lee Thomas and Crenner (Hawkins) Thomas. Democrat. Police officer; lawyer; delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1972; mayor of Los Angeles, Calif., 1973-93; defeated, 1969; candidate for Governor of California, 1982, 1986. Methodist. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Kappa Alpha Psi; Urban League; NAACP. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1984. Died, of a heart attack, at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif., September 29, 1998 (age 80 years, 274 days). Entombed in mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Calif.
  Relatives: Married, May 4, 1941, to Ethel Mae Arnold.
  Epitaph: "Beloved Husband and Father"
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile — Find-A-Grave memorial
  Books about Tom Bradley: J. Gregory Payne, Tom Bradley : The Impossible Dream : A Biography
  Benjamin Lawson Hooks (b. 1925) — also known as Benjamin L. Hooks — of Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn. Born in Memphis, Shelby County, Tenn., 1925. Democrat. Lawyer; pastor; state court judge in Tennessee, 1965; member, Federal Communications Commission, 1972-77; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1996, 2000; speaker, 1988; Presidential Elector for Tennessee, 1996. Baptist. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons. Civil rights leader; friend and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1986. Still living as of 2000.
  Percy Ellis Sutton — also known as Percy Sutton — of Manhattan, New York County, N.Y. Democrat. Member of New York state assembly, 1965-66 (New York County 11th District 1965, 77th District 1966); borough president of Manhattan, New York, 1966-77; delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972, 1984; candidate in primary for mayor of New York City, N.Y., 1977. African ancestry. Recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1987. Still living as of 1987.
  Jesse Louis Jackson (b. 1941) — also known as Jesse L. Jackson; "Thunder" — of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born in Greenville, Greenville County, S.C., October 8, 1941. Democrat. Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1972; speaker, 1984, 1988; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1984, 1988; delegate to Democratic National Convention from District of Columbia, 1996. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Council on Foreign Relations; Omega Psi Phi. Civil rights leader; associate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; recipient of the Spingarn Medal in 1989. Still living as of 2009.
  Relatives: Married 1964 to Jacqueline Brown; father of Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr..
  Cross-reference: Ron Daniels
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Books about Jesse Jackson: Marshall Frady, Jesse: The Life and Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson — Marshall Frady, Jesse: The Life and Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson
  Critical books about Jesse Jackson: Bernard Goldberg, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (And Al Franken Is #37) — Kenneth R. Timmerman, Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson
  Lawrence Douglas Wilder (b. 1931) — also known as L. Douglas Wilder — of Richmond, Va. Born January 17, 1931. Democrat. Lawyer; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1980; Lieutenant Governor of Virginia; elected 1985; Governor of Virginia, 1990-94; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1992; Independent candidate for U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1994; mayor of Richmond, Va., 2005-. African ancestry. Member, Freemasons. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1990. Still living as of 2009.
  See also National Governors Association biography — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Books about L. Douglas Wilder: Judson L. Jeffries, Virginia's Native Son : The Election and Administration of Governor L. Douglas Wilder
  Colin Luther Powell (b. 1937) — also known as Colin L. Powell; "Balloonfoot" — Born in Manhattan, New York County, N.Y., April 5, 1937. Son of Luther Theophilus Powell and Maud Ariel (McKoy) Powell. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war; U.S. Army general; National Security Advisor, 1987-89; chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989-93; U.S. Secretary of State, 2001-05. African ancestry. Recipient of the Spingarn medal, 1991; twice recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1991 and again in 1995. Still living as of 2009.
  Relatives: Son of Luther Theophilus Powell and Maud Ariel (McKoy) Powell; married, August 25, 1962, to Alma Vivian Johnson; father of Michael K. Powell.
  See also Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier — Internet Movie Database profile
  Books by Colin L. Powell: My American Journey : An Autobiography
  Books about Colin L. Powell: Oren Harari, The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell — Karen DeYoung, Soldier : The Life of Colin Powell — Reggie Finlayson, Colin Powell (for young readers)
  Barbara Charline Jordan (1936-1996) — also known as Barbara Jordan — of Houston, Harris County, Tex. Born in Houston, Harris County, Tex., February 21, 1936. Democrat. Member of Texas state senate, 1967; U.S. Representative from Texas 18th District, 1973-79; speaker, Democratic National Convention, 1988. Female. African ancestry. Lesbian. Received the Spingarn Medal in 1992, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. Died of leukemia and multiple sclerosis, January 17, 1996 (age 59 years, 330 days). Interment at Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Tex.
  See also congressional biography — Govtrack.us page — NNDB dossier
  Books about Barbara Jordan: Mary Beth Rogers, Barbara Jordan : American Hero — Ann Fears Crawford, Barbara Jordan : Breaking the Barriers (for young readers)
  Aloyisus Leon Higginbotham, Jr. (1928-1998) — also known as A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. — of Pennsylvania. Born in Trenton, Mercer County, N.J., February 25, 1928. Member, Federal Trade Commission, 1962-64; U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1964-77; Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, 1977-93. African ancestry. Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995; received the Spingarn Medal in 1996. Died, following a series of strokes, in a hospital at Boston, Suffolk County, Mass., December 14, 1998 (age 70 years, 292 days). Burial location unknown.
  See also NNDB dossier

 

 


 
   
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The Political Graveyard

The Political Graveyard is a web site about U.S. political history and cemeteries. Founded in 1996, it is the Internet's most comprehensive free source for American political biography, listing 234,420 politicians, living and dead.
 
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