Zirl A. Palmer facts for kids

Zirl Augustus Palmer (1920–1982) was an African-American businessman and activist in Lexington, Kentucky. He opened Palmer's Pharmacy in 1952 in an old building at Fifth and Race Street. He was involved in the city's desegregation and first Black board member of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. He and his family were the target of a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1968.

At the time of Palmer's move to Lexington, the city had an established group of Black professionals, among them were nine medical doctors, four dentists, and no pharmacists.

Due to segregation, soda fountains at the existing pharmacies were off limits to Blacks. Although Palmer first had difficulty in locating an ice cream company willing to do business, Dixie Ice Cream Co. agreed, and his soda fountain grew in popularity.

In 1961, Palmer constructed the mid-century modern building at 400 East Fifth at Chestnut to house his pharmacy, with two doctors, and a lawyer, opening Palmer's Pharmacy, Luncheonette, and Doctor's Office in 1961. The opening was reported in Jet Magazine in December 1961. It was a franchise of Rexall, the company's first Black owned store. He was actively engaged in mentoring neighborhood youth, employing them and referring them to other businesses.

Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, he was educated at Bluefield State College and Howard University, both among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Since Blacks were barred from the West Virginia professional schools, Palmer found an alternative at Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy in New Orleans. He sought the financial assistance from his home state, getting train fare and partial tuition paid.

The son of James and Lola Allen Palmer, he was married to Marian Elspy Sidney of Cartersville, Georgia. Both Palmer and his wife were veterans of World War II.

His civic involvement included the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Chamber of Commerce. At his church, Main Street Baptist, he organized a health care program. Palmer was one of the first members of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights which is charged with enforcement authority. An organizer of Community Action, he was the first Black member of the Optimist Club and Big Brothers.

He opened a second store in 1966 on Georgetown Street, which was the site of the September 4, 1968, KKK bombing. The store was destroyed and damaged three others in the West End Plaza. Eight people were injured. Palmer, his wife, and four-year-old daughter, Andrea, were hospitalized after being trapped under the rubble for hours. Following the bombing, he is quoted as saying that to protect his family, he retired and sold his businesses.

He continued his involvement in the community, including the UK Board of Trustees (1972–1979) to which he was appointed by Governor Wendell Ford. His Fifth and Race building is now the property of city government, which once considered razing the building. However, activists and historic preservationists have fought to allocate funds to preserve the building. An effort is underway to have the building on the National Register of Historic Places.