George McElroy (journalist) facts for kids

George Albert McElroy (born May 25, 1922, in Houston, Texas, and died October 7, 2006) was a very important and groundbreaking African-American journalist. He achieved many "firsts" in his career. For example, he was the first African American to get a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Growing Up and Military Service

George McElroy was born on May 25, 1922, in Houston, Texas. His parents were Hugh and Philomena McElroy. His father, Hugh George McElroy, was a brave war veteran. He fought in important battles and was honored for his courage in World War I.

George grew up in the Third Ward area of Houston. After finishing high school, he joined the United States Navy. He served from 1940 to 1948, often in Asia. Later, he worked as an information specialist at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston.

Education and Fighting Segregation

After leaving the military, McElroy returned to Texas. At that time, Texas had segregation laws. These laws meant that Black people and white people had separate schools and facilities.

McElroy wanted to attend the University of Texas (UT). However, he was denied admission because he was Black. He was told he had to attend Texas Southern University (then called Texas State University for Negroes). He argued that while both schools offered the same courses, they were not truly "equal."

McElroy sued for his right to attend UT. Even though he fought hard, he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Southern University in 1956. Interestingly, many years later, his daughter, Kathleen, became the Director of the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas.

McElroy later received a scholarship from the Wall Street Journal to study at the University of Missouri. In 1970, he made history. He became the first African American to earn a master's degree in journalism from that university.

Journalism Career Highlights

In 1937, George McElroy started working at the Informer. This was the oldest African-American newspaper in Texas. He began as a youth column writer and was paid $3 per column. Over 58 years, he worked in almost every job at the newspaper. He retired in 1996 but continued as Editor Emeritus until his death in 2006.

After graduating from the University of Missouri, McElroy took a job at the Houston Post newspaper in 1954. He became a weekly columnist in 1956. He was the first Black reporter and the first Black columnist at the Houston Post. At that time, it was the biggest morning newspaper in Texas. Even though he was a regular columnist, his picture in the paper was a sketch, not a photo like his white co-workers had.

McElroy believed that journalists should not stay in "racial-isolation." He said they must travel, talk to people, observe, and be curious.

In 1960, McElroy became the first African American member of the Houston Press Club. During a club event, he played the role of Alabama Governor George Wallace. Wallace was a strong supporter of segregation. McElroy played this role because no one else wanted to. This made him the first Black cast member in the club's annual show. Some people protested, and McElroy even received threats. The Houston mayor had to provide police protection for him.

Also in 1960, students from Texas Southern University held a sit-in at a Houston store. They were protesting segregation. The students asked McElroy for advice on how to get news coverage. He told them to call the police themselves, which helped their protest get noticed. Over 100 people joined the peaceful protest. News outlets called it the "first sit-in west of the Mississippi."

McElroy also worked as the Texas reporter for Jet Magazine. He was elected President of the Press Club of Houston. Throughout his career, he interviewed many famous people. These included Martin Luther King Jr., Fidel Castro, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and six American presidents.

He believed that Black newspapers covered issues that bigger newspapers missed. He said they were closer to the problems and concerns in their community.

Teaching Journalism

At the same time as his journalism career, McElroy taught journalism in Houston for over 40 years.

• He taught at Phyllis Wheatley High School and Jack Yates High School.
• At Jack Yates High School, he was the Chairman of the Journalism Department. He also sponsored a journalism club named after President John Kennedy's press secretary.
• He was a journalism professor at the University of Houston for four years.
• He retired from Texas Southern University in 1989. There, he was the Chair of the Journalism Department and a professor.

Pioneering Achievements and Awards

Breaking Barriers

George McElroy was a true pioneer for African Americans in journalism. He was the first African American to achieve many things:

• He earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
• He wrote for the Houston Post.
• He was a journalism graduate who taught journalism in the Houston Independent School District.
• He joined the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, a national journalism group.
• He became a member of the Houston Press Club.
• He taught journalism at the University of Houston.
• He won first place from the Texas Gulf Coast Press Association for his writings in the Informer.

McElroy was also the first minority person of any race to have a regular column in a Houston newspaper.

Honors and Recognition

McElroy received over 100 awards and honors during his life. Some of them include:

• 2021: Headliners Foundation Scholarship (given after his death). He was the first person of color honored with a scholarship from this foundation.
• 2006: Lifetime Achievement Award from the Houston Association of Black Journalists.
• 2000: Golden Pen Award from the Black Heritage Society for his important contributions to African American heritage.
• 1977: Houston mayor Fred Hofheinz declared "George McElroy Week" in his honor.
• 1964: He helped lead the first annual High School Reporters' Conference at Prairie View A&M University.

Scholarships in His Name

Several scholarships for journalism students have been named after George McElroy. These include:

• The Press Club of Houston Educational Foundation - George McElroy Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Scholarship.
• Houston Association of Black Journalists - George McElroy Scholarship.

Other Activities and Military Service

George McElroy was a member of Omega Psi Phi, a fraternity. He was also the President of the Houston Breakfast Club and the President of the Press Club of Houston.

He served in the Navy during World War II from 1940 to 1943. He also served in the United States Merchant Marines from 1944 to 1945. During the Korean War (1951-1952), he was an Information Officer at Ellington Air Force Base. There, he met his second wife, Lucinda Martin McElroy, who was serving in the US Air Force.

In 1973, the Governor of Texas asked McElroy to become an admiral in the state's navy. He chose to continue his journalism career instead.

Family Life

George McElroy was first married to Maxine Prudhomme. They had one daughter, Madeline. His second marriage was to Lucinda Martin in 1950. They had four more daughters: Toni, Linda, Kathleen, and Sherridan. George and Lucinda were married for almost 45 years until her death in 1995.

In September 2006, McElroy was in the hospital with a breathing illness. He learned he would receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Even though he was sick, his doctors allowed him to attend the event. He received his award and gave a speech. Soon after, he became very ill with pneumonia and passed away on October 6, 2006. His funeral was held at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church, and he was buried at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

See also

• Sweatt v. Painter
• National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)