Donald L. Hollowell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Hollowell
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Donald Lee Hollowell
December 19, 1917 Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
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| Died | December 27, 2004 (aged 87) |
| Education | Lane College (BA) Loyola University Chicago (LLB) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Movement | Civil Rights Movement |
Donald Lee Hollowell (born December 19, 1917 – died December 27, 2004) was an important American lawyer. He worked hard for civil rights during the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. He helped end segregation in schools, colleges, and public transport. He even helped Martin Luther King Jr. get out of prison. Hollowell also taught other civil rights lawyers. He was the first Black person to lead a big government agency, the EEOC. He is best known for helping to end segregation at the University of Georgia in 1961. A film called Donald L. Hollowell: Foot Soldier for Equal Justice was made about him in 2010.
Contents
Donald Hollowell: A Civil Rights Hero
Early Life and Inspiration
Donald Hollowell was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up mostly in Eureka, Kansas. He finished high school while serving six years in the U.S. Army. He was part of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, also known as the original Buffalo Soldier regiment.
Even though he was in Kansas, he still faced a lot of racism and unfair treatment in the Army during World War II. Hollowell said that he had to eat in the kitchen and sleep near prisoners. He also had to use separate canteens because of his race. These experiences with racial segregation made him want to fight for justice. After the war, he joined the Southern Negro Youth Congress. This group inspired him to study law. He wanted to help people fight for their rights.
In 1947, Hollowell graduated with high honors from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. He then earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1951.
Fighting for Justice
In 1952, Hollowell opened his own law office in Atlanta. He quickly became a key player in the growing civil rights movement.
Hollowell became famous for fighting racial segregation in Georgia. He sued the University of Georgia. He argued that the university was unfairly keeping Black students out. In 1961, a federal court agreed with him. The court ordered the university to accept two African-American students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton E. Holmes. This was a huge step forward for civil rights.
In 1960, Hollowell and another lawyer, Horace Ward, won a case that freed Martin Luther King Jr. from a Georgia prison. In another important case, Hollowell and his team stopped a 15-year-old Black youth from being put to death. This happened just five days before it was supposed to happen. Hollowell also defended Dr. King and many other civil rights activists. This was during the important Albany Movement in Albany, Georgia.
A Leader in Government
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose Hollowell for a big job. He became the regional director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This government agency works to stop unfair treatment in workplaces. This made Hollowell the first Black person to lead a major federal agency in that role. He worked for the EEOC for almost 20 years.
Hollowell also served as the president of the Voter Education Project. In this role, he helped more African-American people register to vote. The number of Black voters grew from 3 million to 5.5 million.
In 2002, the University of Georgia honored Hollowell. They gave him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Personal Life and Legacy
Donald Hollowell was a dedicated member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. In 1968, he received their highest honor, the Laurel Wreath Award. This was for all his important work in civil rights.
Hollowell was married to Louise T. Hollowell. She was a respected English professor at Morris Brown College. In 1997, Louise Hollowell and Martin Lehfeldt wrote a book about Donald. It was called The Sacred Call: A Tribute to Donald L. Hollowell—Civil Rights Champion. The book shared his achievements and their love story. Donald and Louise celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in 2004. They did not have children of their own. However, they were godparents to Dr. Albert J. H. Sloan, II.
Hollowell passed away on December 27, 2004, just eight days after his 87th birthday. He died from heart failure.
To honor him, the City of Atlanta renamed Bankhead Highway (U.S. 78) after him. Emory University also created a special professorship in his name. A documentary film about him, Donald L. Hollowell: Foot Soldier for Equal Justice, was released in 2010. A full book about his life was published in 2013 by University of Georgia Press.
