Archie Walter Willis Jr.
Archie Walter Willis Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Tennessee House of Representatives | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 16, 1925 Birmingham, Alabama |
| Died | July 14, 1988 (aged 63)[1][2] Memphis, Tennessee |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Occupation | Politician |
Archie Walter Willis Jr. (March 16, 1925 – July 14, 1988) was a lawyer, businessman, and state representative in Tennessee. Elected in 1964, he was the first African American elected to state office in Tennessee in more than 70 years.[3]
He was born in Birmingham, Alabama.[3] He moved to Memphis in 1953 and helped establish the city's first integrated law firm.[4] He represented James Meredith who was being blocked from attending the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.[5]
Part of Auction Avenue in downtown Memphis is named in his honor.[4] The A. W. Willis Bridge is named for him.[3] He was married to the educator and activist Miriam DeCosta-Willis from 1972 until his death in 1988.[6]
See also
[edit]- African Americans in Tennessee
- African American officeholders from the end of the Civil War until before 1900
References
[edit]- ^ Archie Walter Willis at Find A Grave. (includes pictures of grave with dates) Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ The A.W. Willis, Jr. Collection at Memphis Public Library and Information Center. 2006. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Willis Jr., Archie Walter "A. W." Tennessee Encyclopedia".
- ^ a b "Archie Walter "A.W." Willis, Jr". www.wknofm.org. May 14, 2009.
- ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. April 1965.
- ^ "Miriam DeCosta-Willis (1934-2021)". Memphis Public Libraries. January 7, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
 | This Tennessee politician–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |