Homer Plessy, challenged a two year old street car law that departed passengers traveling on trains in Louisiana. His action made him a plaintiff and defendant in the landmark. U.S. Supreme Court Case of Plessy v.s. Ferguson in 1896. March 17, March 1, 1925.
Dr. Walter A. Reed, First Black Physician Tangipahoa Parish. 1875-1945
Gideon Tillman Carter, Sr, Principal, coach, community leaders, and was the first Black elected to Ponchatoula board of aldermen since Reconstruction. March 15, 1924- November 1, 1984.
M.C. Moore filed a lawsuit in 1950 against the Tangipahoa Parish School Board in Tangipahoa Parish. The case was won. The school system is still operating under federal court orders.
"Coach" Reginald A. Cotton, Sr, was one of the Tangipahoa Parish most successful football and track coaches. He later served not he Tangipahoa Parish School Board. November 4, 1927- December 9, 1986
Wilbert Lee Dangerfield, Hammond's first black councilman. He served from 1977-1994. The community activist served on the board and held membership in many organizations to help community throughout Tangipahoa Parish. August 30, 1937- July 18, 2011
Joyce Marie Moore vs. Tangipahoa Parish School Board is one of the most famous lawsuits in Tangipahoa Parish. This case has been in court for more than 50 years.
Forchia Mae Wilson, Educator, community leader, founder and curator for Sweet Home Museum in Kentwood, LA. May 9, 1925-March 26, 2011
Edwin H. Wilson. The first black to teach tailoring to veterans in Tangipahoa Parish. He later became a full time tailoring teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. October 28, 1918-November 20, 1980
Micheal D. Jackson, Jackson played for the NFL after he was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A wide receiver from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jackson played in eight NFL seasons from 1991-1998 for the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens before retiring. He was the first professional football player from Tangipahoa Parish.
Melvin Lee "Kip" Holden, On November 3, 2004, he was elected as the first Black Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish. August 12, 1952
Dr. Leo Stanley Butler, In 1918, Butler was the first male to receive a diploma form what became McKinley High School. IN 1926, he began a lifelong practice of medicine and community service. He was known as the "Dean of Black Physicians." He was named General Practitioner of the Year" by the National Medical Association in 1962. Both the East Baton Rouge Medical Society and the East Baton Rouge Medial Association honored him for outstanding community service. August 12, 1899 to September 8, 1978.
Arna Wendell Bontemps, is famous for his books featuring black characters, he wrote many notable pieces including God Sends Sunday (1931), Black Thunder (1936), The Story of the Negro (1948) and Great Slave Narratives (1969). October 13, 1902-June 10, 1974
Ernest Nathan "Dutch" Morial, lawyer, judge, State Legislator, and mayor. He was born in New Orleans, in 1977 he was elect the first Black mayor of the City of New Orleans. October 9, 1929-December 24, 1989.
