[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1793-1794]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MR. L.C. LEACH, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 17, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable civil rights advocate and public servant, Mr. L.C. Leach, 
Sr. Throughout his remarkable life, Mr. Leach made unprecedented 
strides towards the ongoing battle of ensuring civil rights for African 
Americans in his community.
  Born February 7, 1927, Mr. Leach was a lifelong resident of Bolton, 
Mississippi. He received his formal education at Champion Hill 
Elementary School, Champion Hill High School, and Southern Christian 
Institute College. He received additional education at Jackson State 
University and became a prominent figure in the community through his 
employment at Universal Life Insurance, located in Jackson, 
Mississippi.
  As an African American male living in a small rural town of 
segregated Mississippi, Mr. Leach witnessed and endured many injustices 
towards himself and others in the community.

[[Page 1794]]

But with the necessity of change beckoning his spirit, Mr. Leach set 
aside any fears or reservations he may have had to help his community 
rise above the systematic inequalities of segregation.
  Through a coordinated effort with other African American members of 
the community, Mr. Leach put forth his determination to integrate the 
white-only elementary school in Bolton, Mississippi by sending his son 
(along with three other African American students) to attend class 
there. Although many in town were uneasy with the decision to do so 
(both whites and blacks), the stance proceeded without incident.
  Using the stance on the white-only elementary school as a catalyst 
for advancing other significant changes in the community, Mr. Leach 
became an avid member of the National Association for the Advancement 
of Colored People. He worked extremely close with many other civil 
rights advocates in the state, most notably brothers Charles and Medgar 
Evers.
  Through organized boycotts orchestrated through the NAACP, Mr. Leach 
and others were instrumental in integrating white-only grocery stores 
in Jackson, Mississippi, the Jackson Zoological Park, and public 
restrooms and water fountains in and around the city of Jackson. At 
times, Mr. Leach helped local residents strategize boycott tactics 
under the cover of his insurance office.
  In addition to advocating for the dismantlement of segregation, Mr. 
Leach will be forever known for his courage in seeking and obtaining 
the elected position as first African American Alderman of Bolton, 
Mississippi. After serving as Alderman, he would later sit as Judge 
Leach of Bolton, as well as spearhead an effort with other community 
leaders to establish the community's first Head Start program for area 
preschool children to attend.
  Through all his community advocacy and public servitude, Mr. Leach 
was a wonderful husband and father. He was married to his loving wife, 
Earnestine Perry Leach, for 55 years at the time of his death. He has 
two sons (Joe and L.C., Jr.) and two daughters (Veronica and Bobbie) 
who also will continue to carry on the legacy of Mr. L.C. Leach, Sr. He 
transcended this life on earth on April 28, 2008.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. L.C. 
Leach, Sr. for his dedication and service as a civil rights advocate 
and pioneer during the civil rights movement.

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