Volma Overton

Volma Robert Overton
Born(1924-09-26)September 26, 1924
Maha, Texas, United States
DiedOctober 31, 2005(2005-10-31) (aged 81)
Austin, Texas
EducationBS in chemistry
Alma materTillotson College
Occupation(s)Civil rights activist, Marine, postmaster
Employer(s)United States Marine Corps,
United States Army Reserves,
United States Postal Service
Known forEfforts to end racial segregation in Austin schools
MovementCivil Rights Movement
Spouse
Warneta Hill
​
(m. 1946)​
Children1 son, 3 daughters
RelativesRichard Overton (cousin)[1]

Volma Robert Overton (September 26, 1924 – October 31, 2005) was an African-American civil rights activist and president of NAACP's Austin, Texas chapter from 1962 to 1983.[2][3] He is best known for his legal efforts to end racial segregation in Austin schools.[4]

Overton was born in Maha in the rural southeast of Travis County.[4] He served in the Marines in World War II,[1] then in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[4] After World War II, he attended Tillotson College (now part of Huston-Tillotson University) from 1947 to 1950 where he earned a B.S. degree in chemistry with a minor in math.[2] He also met his wife, Warneta while studying there.[4] They had four children, who were often involved in Overton's civil rights work; their daughter DeDra was named the plaintiff in the federal lawsuit he led to desegregate Austin schools.[4] The lawsuit lasted a decade and Overton, backed by the NAACP Legal Defense, the U.S. Justice Department and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, ultimately prevailed.[4]

  1. ^ a b Izadi, Elahe (November 11, 2014). "Meet America's oldest living vet. He smokes cigars, does yard work, drives and drinks whiskey. And he's 108". Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Overton, Johnnie M. (June 13, 2013). "Overton, Volma Robert, Sr.". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Civil Rights: From Black & White to Color (PDF) (DVD set). Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. March 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-11-05. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Amy (November 11, 2005). "Local Civil Rights Hero Overton Dies". Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas. Retrieved January 25, 2015.