Education
He was the first permanent African American principal in Lubbock.
Edward Charles Struggs, (Prof. Struggs)
Making boots for movie stars and celebrities including, Shirley Temple, Betty White, and President Gabriel Gonzales Videla of Chile, he was able to open his own boot shop with the help of Benny Binion. Binion was so impressed with his new boots he whipped out $2500 in cash and handed it this young man.
Willie Lusk
in 1943 with the help of the president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, he became the first person in Lubbock to benefit from penicillin.
Roosevelt Murphy, a maintaince man who worked for St. Mary's Hospital, now Covenant.
In July 1978 he became the first black fireman in the city of Lubbock.
Edmond Henderson
This is the name of the first African American semi-pro athletic team in Lubbock.
Lubbock Black Hubbers
Ida Stafford organized a Sunday school in her one room house on October 2, 1917 marking the beginning of this, the first church for African Americans in Lubbock.
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church
Because of Jim Crow Laws she had to go to Iowa to get her masters of education. She became the first African American female principal in the city of Lubbock.
Mae Simmons
He founded the Lubbock Black Chamber of Entrepreneurs in 1977. He cofounded the Southwest Digest with TJ Patterson and served as co-publisher.
Eddie Price Richardson, Jr.
Arriving in the mid 1930's, he was the first African American physician in Lubbock. He had to leave Lubbock, running for his life after marrying one of his Anglo patients
Dr. Joel P. Oliver
Milton Blanford
She was the first women to have a Nike shoe named after her. She grew up in Brownfield and went to Texas Tech where she helped the Red Raiders to a National Championship.
Sheryl Swoops
In June 1946, he organized a church on a small plot of land donated by Dr. C.H. Lyons.
She was the first permanent Black school teacher in the city of Lubbock and she helped all the churches with their plays because she was good with dramatics.
Ella Iles
Arriving in Lubbock in 1915, he was one of the first African Americans to own land in Lubbock, he owned 10 acres of land south 19th St where he grew cotton.
Calvin Quigley
He attended public schools and was a seasonal cotton-picker at Mexia, Texas. At eighteen he was admitted to Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Prairie View A&M University), where he played football and led an undefeated baseball team. In 1945 he built the first hospital for African Americans in Lubbock.
Joseph Alvin Chatman
Created by Fulton Berry, Floyd Price, and William Britt, this radio show was designed to keep young folks at home listening to the music and off the streets.
Kingpins of the Soul Patrol
Winning 17 district championships and winning the state championship in 1983, he coached Estacado football at Estacado from 1975 to 2000. He was also the head football coach for Dunbar 1970-1975.
Louis Kelley
He spent about a year and a half soliciting donations for his church dream. It took over five years to complete it was primarily due to his efforts The Messiah United Presbyterian Church was created.
William Sedberry
In May, 1928, two girls, Alma Williams and Lena Robinson, and three boys, James Lewis, Burton McCutcheon and Elmo Robinson were the first graduates of this school.
Dunbar High School
Eugene Racquemore
Arriving in Lubbock in January 1950 as a result of an invitation from Dr. Chatman, he will be remembered for more reasons than his medical abelites. The baseball field on East 24th and MLK is named after him.
Dr. Franklin Leroy Lovings
He worked for Shamburger Lumber Company where he hauled lumber used to build Texas Tech University. Later working for Dewitt Walton selling tamales. He would walk many miles each day pushing the tamale cart and would feed the hungry and homeless if they could not afford a tamale. He was the first African American to serve on a Jury in Lubbock.
John Fair
He played basketball at Lubbock Christian University and became the first African American coach of any major sport at the University of Mississippi "Ole Miss" in 1992.
Ron Evans
Originally called Mount Calvary Baptist, this church was organized in 1926 after a split from Caldonia Baptist Church. The church's current sanctuary was built in 1949.
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
She was the aunt of TJ Patterson. In 1961, she was the first African American to attend Texas Tech University.
Lucille Graves
Serving in the Korean War where he became a staff sergeant and perfected his culinary skills by overseeing the preparation of daily meals for as many as 10,000 soldiers. When he returned to Lubbock he opened his first restaurant across from the county fairgrounds.
Christopher B. Stubblefield "Stubbs"
Born in Carthage, TX, he was a graduate of Wiley College in Marshall, TX and graduated from Howard University Dental School. He did two years of extensive training in oral surgery at the V.A. Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. He started a private practice in Lubbock in 1959 and served as a volunteer dentist for eighteen years at the City-County Health Department.
Dr. Heenan Johnson, Jr.
In 1984 He became the first African American to be elected to Lubbock City Counsel.
TJ Patterson
He led Estacado to the state football championship in 1968 as a quarterback and then played for Texas Tech. Later he became the principal of Estacado.
Kenneth Wallace
Katie Parks, historian and author of Remember When? A History of African Americans in Lubbock, TX, was a member of this church for over 50 years, serving on the Food Voucher Committee, teaching Sunday School, and visiting sick members.
Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church
In 1920, she became the first black teacher in the city of Lubbock, hired by the school board and paid an annual salary of $720.
Sadie Taylor
They were the first African American husband and wife in the United States to own and operate their own pharmacy. The pharmacy was open from 1960-2009.
Alfred and Billie Cavel
Making history when he was born as the first African American born in West Texas Hospital, now UMC. He became the first African American from the city of Lubbock to be accepted to Texas Tech School of Medicine. He now runs a family medical practice with his son.
Dr. Damon Hill, Jr.
He was a 6 year service officer for the Lubbock County Commissioners Court. He helped more than 1,600 veterans and dependents with pensions and benefits during his tenure. The park on 4th and Zenith is named in his honor.
Ernest Butler
In 1977 she became the first African American head coach of any sport at Texas Tech University.
Javvis Lavonne Scott- Head Women's Track Coach
This church was organized in April 1921, in a room of a house in the 1700 block of Ave. A, with Rev. Davis as leader and pastor for a few weeks.
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
He was the 1st African male to complete a doctorate at Texas Tech University. He was also the first African American to serve on the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Dr. Charles Henry
Located on Ave A and owned by Guy Cefres, this was probably the first black owned commercial business in Lubbock.
Cafe
A native of Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from Dunbar High School and graduated from Angelo State University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 1983. She was the first black female to graduate from Texas A&M Veterinary School.
Dr. Dana Johnson-Manley, D.V.M.
He joined the Legal Division of the United States Small Business Administration in Los Angeles, CA in 1989 as a staff attorney. Following the 1992 Los Angeles Riots he served as an intergovernmental liaison between federal, state, and local government entities and was responsible for the delivery of over 350 million dollars in disaster relief and recovery to the victims of the riots. He became the District Counsel for the Lubbock District Office of the United States Small Business Administration.
Calvin Jackson-Davis
Born in Lubbock, he attended Estacado High School and graduated from the University of Texas in 1985. He played eight seasons in the NFL he would become the first African American from Lubbock to serve as a long-time NFL coach.
Jerry Gray
In the summer of 1949, Elder C. Howell held a tent revival on the corner of 20th and Cedar Ave. This small congregation organized and rented the New Hope Baptist Church to hold worship services. Brother Jack Glaspie was instrumental in building a church building at the corner of 25th and MLK Blvd.
Manhattan Heights Seventh-Day Adventist Church now the MLK Seventh-Day Adventist Church