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| From West Broad Street to MLK, Jr. Blvd |
Overview of West Broad Street |
Development & Renewal |
About Us |
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| African American Attorneys Located on West Broad Street |
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Eugene H. Gadsden
The Honorable Eugene H. Gadsden, was the first African American to served as a Judge in the Eastern Judicial Circuit of the Superior Court of Chatham County, Savannah Georgia (James M. Simms was the first Negro appointed Judge, but with no law degree members of the Savannah Bar Association objected). Judge Gadsden was born February 4, 1912 to prominent Savannah family of Educators. He took collage prepatory classes at Savannah State Collage for Colored Youth and went on to receive his Bachelors degree from Lincoln University. He would go on to peruse a legal profession at North Carolina Central University. On his return to Savannah, GA, in 1956 Judge Gadsden successfully passed the Georgia Bar and set up his private practice at 458 West Broad Street on the second floor of what is now known as the Mark Gilbert Civil Rights museum. As a practicing Attorney he became very involved in the community; serving as Chairman of the NAACP Political Advisory Council during the etalon of the race relations of the Civil Right Era (Hoskins 1989).„ Because of segregation he had to wait for all the other attorneys to leave the court room before he could enter the courtroom to have his cases heard‰, explains African American Attorney, and Judge (who serves as Chief Judge for the City of Thunderbolt, Georgia) William Yancey. He was also a board member for the ŒSpecial Bi-Racial Committee which sought after integration. (Gilbert 1952)
In 1970 he was appointed pro tem Judge of Recorder's Court. A year later he was appointed by Governor Busbee. Judge Gadsden always made his rulings based on the merit of the case and never for political or personal inequity, says The Honorable William Yancey. A portrait of Judge Gadsden is located in courtroom C, in the Chatham County Courthouse honoring him. Attorney Gwendolyn Waring commissioned to have it written in to law in Georgia Legislature. Gadsden retired at age 81 as the first African American Attorney do so. He returned to the earth in 1997. |
John H. Kinckle
John H. Kinckle, born in Lynchburg, Virginia was the first African American in Savannah, as well as the state of Georgia. He graduated from Howard Law School at age 30. In 1891 he appeared before Judge Faligant and a committee of attorneys to prove himself proficient in the law before practicing locally. Judge Faligant believed Attorney Kinckle was well qualified and readily admitted him. John Kinckle and Abraham Tucker formed Savannah‚s first African American law firm, Kinckle & Tucker, at 110 West Broad Street. Attorney Kinckle practiced law in Savannah for over thirty-five years as a pioneer among Negro attorneys upholding the highest traditions of law and the courts. He practiced law until his death at his residence at 514 East Henry Street. (Hoskins 1989) |
Bobby Clarence Mayfield
Bobby Clarence Mayfield, Esquire was a general practitioner for the Negro community during the Civil Rights Era. He was „the‰ legal attorney for all the men and women who were jailed for „sit-in‰ demonstrations. His office was located at 910 West Broad Street. As M L King Jr. Blvd an African American Attorney named Bonzo Reddick took over his active cases and still practices out of the same office today (I will talk with him tomorrow, he is one of the Interim Magistrate Court Judges). I also have to retrieve his term and photos. In an interview with the author, Enoch Mathis revealed his knowledge of Bobby Mayfield, as a former client and friend. |
Col. E. M. Morse
Col. E. M. Morse graduated from Shaw University and successfully passed the Georgia bar examination, which was very rigid and catchy. He went on to work at the Kinckle & Tucker Law Firm for a shot time before forming his own firm at the Savannah Tribune building. Deficient health problems led to his death in 1905. |
Abraham Tucker
Abraham Tucker graduated with esteemed honors from the Law Department of Allen University in South Carolina in 1896. Prior to his admittance to the Georgia Bar, Tucker was examined by a committee headed by A. H. McDonell and A. L. Alexander. After successfully completing the examination, he went on to become junior partner of the Kinckle & Tucker Law Firm located on 110 West Broad Street. (Hoskins 1989) |
Fleming Tucker
Fleming Tucker son of Abraham Tucker passed the Georgia bar exam and was a efficient accountant of the Mechanic Savings Bank. (Hoskins 1989) |
Other African American Attorney Professionals located on West Broad Street:
Attorney Frank Dilworth, Law Office located at 458 ∏ West Broad St (1952).
Attorney L.L. Scott, Law Office located at 705 ∏ West Broad St. (1952).
Attorney Julius Williams, Law Office located at 719 ∏ West Broad St. (1952). |
Additional African American Attorneys who practiced in Savannah Georgia:
Otis Buckner, Attorney at Law
Gordon Dingle graduated from Howard Law School and passed the local bar examination. He practiced law in Savannah. (Hoskins 1989)
Bobby Hill, Attorney at Law, spent 14 years in the Georgia House and many more in civil activism. Considered one of Savannah's sharpest lawyers, he represented plaintiffs in the case that desegregated the local public schools.
Clarence F. Jones, Attorney at Law
J. G. Lemon, Attorney at Law
Robbie Robinson On December 18, 1989, Alderman Robert „Robbie‰ Edward Robinson (5th Aldermanic District) died as the result of injuries sustained when a mail bomb exploded in his midtown law office. „A noted civil rights attorney‰ and legal counsel for the Savannah Branch NAACP, Robinson was one of the first African American students at Savannah High School and an active leader from Liberty City. Robinson was elected to City Council in 1982 and re-elected in 1986 at which time he also became Vice-chairman of Council. The flag at City Hall was raised to only half staff the day following his death in his honor. In a memorial resolution adopted by Council on December 28th it was stated, „The Mayor and Aldermen will miss Robbie and his humor, his caring, and his warmth of friendship.‰ (Spracher 2005)
Benjamin F. Hubert, Attorney at Law
Foster B. Pettie graduated from Howard Law School and relocated to Savannah, GA in 1906. His law practice was located on 116 St. Julian Street over the old location of the Savannah Tribune Office. Attorney Pettie was also active in real estate and bought the Howard Stiles Real Estate Company. He was a great asset to the African American community. (Hoskins 1989)
A. C. Tucker, Attorney at Law |
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