Carl Maxey facts for kids

Carl Maxey was an amazing American lawyer and a strong leader for civil rights. He was also a talented athlete! Carl first became well-known as a fantastic boxer, earning the nickname "King Carl" at Gonzaga University. He never lost a college boxing match, winning all 32 of his fights. This helped Gonzaga become co-champions of the 1950 NCAA Boxing Championship.

After college, Carl went to Gonzaga University School of Law. He was the first African-American person to graduate from this law school. He also became the first African-American in Spokane to pass the bar examination, which means he could officially practice law.

Carl used his legal skills to fight against unfair treatment and racial discrimination in Spokane. He became known as a civil rights leader and a great trial lawyer. He often took cases for free (this is called pro bono) to help people. He was a powerful force in the fight for equal rights for everyone in Spokane and across Washington state. In 1964, during a time called Freedom Summer, Carl Maxey traveled to Mississippi. He helped Black citizens register to vote and marched alongside famous leaders like Stokely Carmichael and Martin Luther King Jr.. One of his most famous cases was defending the ""Seattle Seven"" in a trial about protests against the Vietnam War.

Carl Maxey also got involved in politics. He once ran for the United States Senate as a Democrat, speaking out against the war. He also ran for vice president with Eugene McCarthy. When Carl Maxey passed away in 1997, The New York Times newspaper called him a "Type A Gandhi." He was one of the most important people in the Inland Northwest and a very respected lawyer and civil rights champion in the entire country.

Early Life and Challenges

Carl Maxey was born in 1924 in Tacoma, Washington. He grew up in Spokane, Washington, where he faced many challenges. He lived in an orphanage for a short time. Later, a kind Jesuit priest named Father Cornelius E. Byrne took Carl and another boy into the Coeur d'Alene Mission of the Sacred Heart Indian school in Desmet, Idaho.

At the Mission school, Carl did very well in his studies. He also became a star athlete, playing baseball, basketball, and football. Father Byrne also taught Carl about boxing. Carl had his first boxing match at age 13, winning against an older opponent! After graduating from the Mission school at 15, Father Byrne helped Carl get a full scholarship to Gonzaga High School in Spokane.

After high school in 1942, Carl joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He wanted to be a pilot, but African-Americans were not allowed in the Army Air Corps then. He became a private in a medical group instead. Carl was shocked by the unfairness he saw in the military, especially in the segregated South. He said this experience made him realize how important it was to fight for fairness. When he returned to Spokane at age 21, he decided to become a lawyer to make a difference.

College and Boxing Success

After his time in the Army, Carl Maxey went to the University of Oregon in 1946 on a track scholarship. But he soon returned to Spokane to attend Gonzaga University. There, he received a boxing scholarship and began studying law.

In the boxing ring, Carl was a powerful fighter. He was tall and had a strong presence. People called him "King Carl" because he was so good. He never lost a single college boxing match, finishing with an amazing record of 32 wins and 0 losses. His success helped Gonzaga win a share of the 1950 lightweight NCAA Boxing Championship. In 1951, Carl Maxey made history again. He became the first African-American man to graduate from the Gonzaga School of Law.

Carl Maxey's Legacy

Carl Maxey passed away in 1997. He is remembered as a true champion for justice. In Spokane, a building is named in his honor: the Carl Maxey Center. This center opened in 2017 in the East Central neighborhood. It is a non-profit organization that works to support and empower the Black community. Carl Maxey's life shows us the power of fighting for what is right and making a difference in the world.

Honors and Awards

Carl Maxey received many important awards for his work:

• 1982 – William O. Douglas Bill of Rights Award from the Washington State Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
• 1988 – Charles A. Goldmark Award from the Legal Foundation of Washington
• 1993 – Gonzaga Law Medal from the Gonzaga University School of Law