Volma Overton 1924-2005

Volma Overton
(1924-2005)
Volma Overton was born on September 31, 1924, in Maha, Texas. Mr. Overton moved to Austin as a child to live with relatives as he attended Austin Independent School District's Kealing Junior High and old Anderson High School. A World War II veteran, he was drafted to the U.S. Marines in 1942 and served for two years. Mr. Overton returned to Texas and from 1947 to 1950 attended Huston-Tillotson College where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

After retiring from the Marines, Mr. Overton joined the Army Reserves and in 1977 retired with honors in the rank of lieutenant colonel He began his professional career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1952. In 1979, he was appointed postmaster in Cedar Creek, Texas, where he served until retirement in 1985.

In spite of his demanding career, Mr. Overton worked to ensure the rights of African- American Austinites by serving as President of the Austin National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1963 to 1983. He led the NAACP in demonstrating against segregated businesses, integrating Bastrop State Park, and leading a campaign to institute single-member districts for Austin City Council elections. As NAACP President, Mr. Overton is best known for his successful federal lawsuit to desegregate Austin schools, creating the diversity that is valued in our schools today.

The civil rights leader also played an integral part in establishing the Austin NAACP chapter's first credit union for the local African-American community. It would later merge with what is now the Greater Texas Federal Credit Union.

Mr. Overton's dedication to the First Baptist Church of Austin began in 1963 where he served as deacon from 1967 until his death in 2005. As a Christian lay leader, he was committed to supporting missions and ensuring the church's involvement in the social ministries of the entire Austin community.

For his contributions and service, Mr. Overton received many honors in his lifetime including the Arthur B. DeWitty Award in 1967 and the LBJ Award for Leadership in Civil Rights from The University of Texas at Austin in 2004. After his death, the Austin branch of NAACP established the Volma Overton Award in honor of his commitment to civil rights.