Joseph Lowery | |
|---|---|
 Lowery in 2000 | |
| 3rd President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference | |
| In office 1977–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph Abernathy |
| Succeeded by | Martin Luther King III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Echols Lowery October 6, 1921 Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 2020 (aged 98) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Paine College Payne Theological Seminary |
| Known for | Civil rights movement |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) |
| Affiliations | Georgia's Coalition for the People's Agenda; Alabama Civic Affairs Association; Black Leadership Forum; Lowery Institute |
Joseph Echols Lowery (October 6, 1921 – March 27, 2020) was an American minister in the United Methodist Church and leader in the civil rights movement. He founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. and others, serving as its vice president, later chairman of the board, and its third president from 1977 to 1997. Lowery participated in most of the major activities of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, and continued his civil rights work into the 21st century. He was called the "Dean of the Civil Rights Movement".[1]
In 2009, Lowery received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Kirklandwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Elliott, Debbie (March 28, 2020). "Rev. Joseph Lowery, 'Dean' Of The Civil Rights Movement, Dies At 98". National Public Radio. Retrieved March 28, 2020.