Thomas Kilgore Jr. facts for kids

Thomas Kilgore Jr. was an important leader, a minister, and a champion for human rights. He worked hard to make sure everyone was treated fairly, no matter their background. He is especially remembered for helping to organize the famous March on Washington.

Life and Work

Thomas Kilgore Jr. was born in Woodruff, South Carolina. When he was a young student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he went to a church led by Reverend A. D. Williams. Reverend Williams was the grandfather of Martin Luther King Jr.. This connection helped Thomas Kilgore Jr. get to know the King family very well. He even met Martin Luther King Jr. when King was just two and a half years old.

Fighting for Civil Rights

In the late 1950s, a group called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was started. This group worked to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for African Americans. Thomas Kilgore Jr. became a key part of the SCLC. He managed their office in New York City.

One of his biggest achievements was helping to plan the historic March on Washington in 1963. This was a huge event where thousands of people gathered in Washington D.C. to demand equal rights and jobs for all. It was a very important moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

Leadership in Los Angeles

Also in 1963, Thomas Kilgore Jr. moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he became the pastor of Second Baptist Church. This church was the oldest Black Baptist church in Los Angeles. He also started the very first SCLC chapter on the West Coast, bringing the fight for civil rights to a new part of the country.

He continued to lead Second Baptist Church until he retired in 1985. Thomas Kilgore Jr. passed away in Los Angeles on February 4, 1998, at the age of 84. His work helped make America a more fair and equal place for everyone.