Harrel Tillman facts for kids
Harrel Gordon Tillman Sr. was an amazing American who lived from 1925 to 1998. He started his career as an actor, but then became a minister, a lawyer, and even a judge! He made history as the very first African-American judge in Texas.
Harrel Gordon Tillman was born on January 18, 1925, in Wadesboro, North Carolina. He spent his childhood in Philadelphia. After finishing college at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, he moved to New York. There, he started acting on stage.
In 1947, he moved to Hollywood, California. He acted in several movies that were made by and starred African-American artists. Some of these films included That Man of Mine, Love in Syncopation, and The Fight Never Ends.
Tillman decided to leave acting and became a minister. He joined the African Methodist Episcopal church in New York City. He started as an assistant pastor and later became an ordained minister. In the early 1950s, he moved to Houston, Texas, to serve as a pastor at the Walls Chapel. While in Houston, he also hosted a gospel music show and a talk show on local radio station KYOK.
Tillman then decided to study law. He became a lawyer in Texas in 1962. Just two years later, in 1964, he was appointed to the municipal court. This made him the first African-American judge in Texas, which was a very important step for civil rights. He also worked to improve prisons in Texas. He tried to become a member of Congress in 1978 and 1982, but he was not successful.
Tillman was interviewed for a book called Black Cinema Treasures, which shares stories about important African-American figures in movies.
Harrel Gordon Tillman Sr. passed away from cancer on June 18, 1998, in Houston. He was 73 years old.
Movies He Was In
- Love in Syncopation (1947)
- That Man of Mine (1947)
- The Fight Never Ends (1948)
- Harlem Mood (1949), where he was a singer
See also
- List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Texas
