The city of San Marcos will host a rededication of the LBJ MLK Crossroads Memorial to honor the ten-year anniversary of its unveiling on Monday, Jan. 15. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the intersection of MLK Drive and LBJ Drive.
“The Crossroads Memorial symbolizes our community’s dedication to civil rights for all of our residents,” said San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson. “It celebrates the progress that has been made and reminds us to keep working toward an ultimate goal – liberty and justice for all.”
The stainless steel sculpture was created by artist Aaron Hussey and features an oval structure symbolic of the Oval Office where President Lyndon Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King discussed civil rights legislation. It was installed in 2014 at the intersection of LBJ Drive and MLK Drive, the only known intersection of its kind in the United States.
The sculpture’s installation followed a years-long effort by residents who sought to commemorate the efforts of President Johnson and Dr. King at San Marcos’ unique intersection. The project was taken on by the San Marcos Arts Commission and funded as a public art project with support from the City of San Marcos, Hays County, Texas State University and private donors.
The rededication ceremony will feature brief remarks and coincide with other MLK Day community events. More information about the events can be found in the B section of today's paper or online at visitsanmarcos. com/arts/ events/crossroads-memorial- rededication.
One event on Saturday will honor the 73 local Civil Rights Trailblazers in San Marcos and Hays County that were originally honored in 2014 when the Crossroads Memorial was dedicated. They are listed, as they were originally provided, alphabetically as follows: 1. Mike Aguirre: Decorated World War II veteran and first minority hired by the San Marcos post office (1963) 2. Johnnie Armstead: Founder of the Calaboose African American History Museum; led petition to change Comal Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive 1987; preservationist who has helped tell the story of the Black experience in San Marcos 3. Charles Austin: Olympic Gold Medalist in the men's high jump (1996) and inducted into the U.S. Track & Field Hall of Fame (2012); distinguished alumnus of Texas State University 4. Bob Barton, Jr.: Crusading Hays County newspaper publisher who helped start coalition of Black, Hispanic and Anglos who integrated local government (1960s and 1970s) 5. Rose Brooks: Voting rights trailblazer in San Marcos and community activist 6. Georgia Hoody Cheatham: one of five African American women who integrated Texas State University, 1963 7. David Chiu: first Asian American elected mayor in the State of Texas (2000) 8. Carol Lane-Coleman: part of original group envisioning the LBJ-MLK Crossroads Memorial (2001) 9. Frank Contreras: first SMCISD Hispanic Principal serving at Bonham Elementary in 1966.
10. Lupe Costilla: first Hispanic woman elected as School Board President 11. Emmie Craddock First woman elected to the San Marcos City Council (1967) and as Mayor (1974 by City Council and in 1981 by popular elections) 12. Dolores Crittendon: one of first African American graduates of San Marcos High School, beloved social worker who aided community for more than 40 years, and first African American director of Salvation Army 13. Ambassador William Crook*: LBJ's ambassador to Australia and community leader in civil rights advances in San Marcos in 1960s and 1970s.
14. Lupe Cruz: One of first Hispanic Constables in Hays County 15. Richard Cruz: Founder of the Hays County Veterans Memorial honoring local veterans and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in wartime. (1997) 16. Bill Cunningham: First Texas State University student elected to City Council (1972) 17. Eddie Durham: Famous jazz great, swing era composer and arranger who recorded the first jazz solo on the electric guitar, and a great trombonist who arranged and performed with greats like Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller and Count Basie. Born in San Marcos in 1906 18. Malcolm Fleming: cast one of four deciding votes to integrate the San Marcos Public Schools in 1955 19. Luciano Flores: World War II veteran, first Mexican American Mayor in San Marcos (1972) and a leader of the G.I. Forum and the rise of minority success in local elected offices.
20. Helen Jackson Franks: one of five African American women who integrated Texas State University in 1963.
21. Dr. Mario Garza and Maria Rocha: Founders of the Indigenous Cultures Institute recognizing the historic contributions of Native Americans — San Marcos is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America — going back 13,000 years.
22. Ruben Garza: first Hispanic elected as President of School Board for SMCISD 23. Ollie Giles: African American historian and genealogist and advocate for research and preservation of Black history and heritage.
24. Mack Green: first African American football coach at San Marcos CISD 25. Karon Gunther: First woman police officer in San Marcos (1973) 26. Katherine Hardeman: Beloved teacher at Dunbar School; took discrimination case to State Board of Education, First African American teacher hired after desegregation; and helped lead San Marcos children through the integration process.
27. Grant Harris, Jr.: long time African American park superintendent for the City of San Marcos, Grant Harris Jr. building named in his honor in 1996 28. Marcos Hernandez: First Hispanic District Attorney for Hays County in 1991 29. Marguerite Cheatham Hill: led petition to change Comal Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive 30. Elvin Holt: first African American tenured English professor at Texas State and dedicated preservationist who has helped tell the story of the Black experience in San Marcos.
31. Leslie Hooker: led petition to change Comal Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (1987) 32. CC 'Tex' Hughson: School Board Member who made the first motion to end segregation in San Marcos schools (August 12, 1955) 33. Aaron Hussy: Louisiana arts and sculptor of the LBJ-Crossroads Memorial commemorating the legacy of LBJ and MLK in advancing Civil Rights.
34. Debbie Gonzales- Ingalsbe: first woman elected as a Hays County Commissioner in 1996 35. Lucious Jackson: 6'9' African American basketball player banned from playing SMHS ball and later #1 draft choice for NBA (1964) 36. Augustin Lucio: Decorated Hays County Veteran, co-founder of American G.I. Forum, and long time member of San Marcos CISD School Board.
37. Josie Mack: led petition to change Comal Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (1987) 38. Forest Manjang: Celebrated African American teacher at segregated Dunbar School 39. Celestino Mendez: First Hispanic San Marcos CID School Board Member (1963) and one of the catalysts in creating a reform group called the Independent Party leading to minority success in local elections. (1970s) 40. Elida Mendez: First Hispanic woman to serve on San Marcos City Council (1981) 41. Harvey Miller: led desegregation of Georgetown TX schools with his daughters integrating the schools; after moving to San Marcos, organized Dunbar Heritage Association (1971) and continues to be passionate advocate for remembrance of MLK, Black History Month and observances like Juneteenth.
42. Ernest Morgan: School Board Member who cast one of four deciding votes to integrate San Marcos Public Schools in 1955 43. Earl Moseley: First African American City Council Member (1998) 44. Petra Nicola*: Celebrated Hispanic teacher, one of first to join San Marcos CID faculty 45. Gloria Odoms: one of five African American women who integrated Texas State University in 1963.
46. Kaye Parks: Part of original group who envisioned the LBJ-MLK Crossroads Memorial and initiated its creation. (2001) 47. David Peterson: First African American Constable in Hays County (2008) who just celebrated 25 years of service with Hays County.
48. Ofelia Vasquez-Philo: First Hispanic woman on San Marcos CISD School Board, (1969) Executive Director of Community Action, Founder of Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos 49. John T. Polanco, Sr.,: First Hispanic Justice of the Peace- Hays County 50. Felipe Reyna: 1940s teacher in San Marcos for whom Administration Building is named 51. Carlos Rodriguez: Director, Professor of Bilingual Education, Texas State University 52. Linda Rodriguez: First Hispanic elected as Hays County Court-at Law Judge 53. Soila Rodriguez: Outstanding educator and first Hispanic high school administrator (Assistant High School Principal) at SMCISD 54. Ruben Ruiz, Sr.: First Hispanic elected to the San Marcos City Council (1961) and as Hays County Commissioner (1970) 55. Jesse Saucedo: one of the first Hispanic Constables in Hays County 56. Ron Sawey: helped change policy banning discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation at university (2003) 57. Becky Sierra: First Hispanic woman Justice of the Peace in Hays County (1973) 58. Dana Jean Smith, one of five African American women who integrated Texas State University in 1963.
59. J. Edwin Smith: Won a U.S. Supreme Court case in 1953 striking down election primary system excluding Black voters; distinguished Texas State alumnus 60. John J. Smith: San Marcos school board president who broke a 3-3 tie to integrate the San Marcos Public Schools (1955) 61. Dr. Joanne Smith: first African American vice president at Texas State University (2005) 62. Pat Spearman: First African American School Board President in San Marcos (1990s), now a Senator elected in the State of Nevada (2012) 63. Liz Sumter: First woman elected as Hays County Judge (2006) 64. Arthur and Geraldine Taylor: founders of the Impact San Marcos and Vision in Action Team dedicated to telling the story of the African American experience in San Marcos 65. Martha Castex-Tatum: First African American woman elected to City Council (2000) 66. Sherri Tibbe: First woman elected as Hays County District Attorney (2006) 67. Lillie Belle Townsend: First Director of Head Start in San Marcos (1967) after the creation of the program by LBJ's War on Poverty 68. Dr. Denise Trauth: First woman to become President of Texas State University (2003) and a transformational leader of one of the fastest-growing universities in Texas 69. Margie Villalpando: First Hispanic County Clerk in Hays County (1995) 70. Tino Villanueva: San Marcos native, author and professor at Boston University; winner of the American Book Award (1994) 71. Rev. Alphonso Washington: First African American licensed plumber in Hays County -after long fight to win a license-(1962) - first African American on the San Marcos CISD School board and known as a man of conscience and courage.
72. Mabeleen Washington: daughter of Rev. Washington and one of five African American women who integrated Texas State University in 1963.
73. Mary Ann Williams, First African American woman to serve on San Marcos CISD school board. (1970s-80s)
