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Hon. Thurgood Marshall and President Lyndon B. Johnson meeting in the Oval Office regarding the announcement of Marshall’s nomination as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Photo by Frank Wolfe.

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Thurgood Marshall

In 1908, Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were Norma and William Canfield Marshall.

In order to fulfill his role as a father, Thurgood worked at various jobs such as a waiter in different hotels, in clubs, and on railroad cars. His mother worked as a schoolteacher.

In search of greener pastures, his family moved to New York City. When he was 6 years old his family moved back to Baltimore.

 His father William鈥檚 favorite hobby was following legal cases,  Thurgood followed him to the court to observe the proceedings, and due to this continued habit, he decided to be a lawyer.

Marshall confessed that his father turned him to be a lawyer by teaching him how to argue, and by challenging his logic on everything.

Marshall became an American jurist and a civil rights lawyer. He served as an associate justice of the United States  Supreme Court between 1967 and 1991 and became the first Supreme Court African-American justice.

He also worked as an attorney and fought for civil rights. Out of his 32, he won 29 civil rights cases.

Below are some of the top 10 outstanding facts about Thurgood Marshall

1. He Studied in One of the Oldest College for African Americans

After He graduated from High School, He has enrolled at Lincoln University located in  Chester County, Pennsylvania. The college is the oldest college for African Americans living in the United States.

In the wake of the hazing incident, he was suspended for two weeks. However, he successfully managed to earn good grades. Thurgood led his school debating team and won various competitions.

In 1930 he graduated with honors with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in American literature and philosophy.

2. Thurgood was Admitted to Howard University School of Law

After graduating from Lincoln University, he was unable to join the all-white University of Maryland Law School. However, he applied to Howard University School of Law located in Washington, D.C., where he qualified and was admitted.

 鈥奧hile at Howard, Charles Hamilton Houston became his mentor. He learned to be a social engineer willing to use the law to fight for civil rights.

In 1993, he graduated first in his class and he passed the Maryland bar examination the same year.

3. He Defended an African American against the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland. Author Carmichael library.

In 1935, the University of Maryland denied Donald Gaines Murray a chance to study at the university. Marshall together with his colleague sued the university.

They won the case and Judge Eugene O鈥橠unne ordered the university to admit Murray. The university was sued for violating equal protection by admitting white and leaving black students in the state uneducated.

Since the petition was not appealed at the supreme court of the united states, it was not applied everywhere.

4. He was Nominated as a Solicitor General

Upon the resignation of Archibald Cox, Thurgood was Nominated by  President Lyndon B. Johnson to replace him as Solicitor General. The role of the Solicitor general was to argue before the supreme court on behalf of the federal government.

The president pressured the southern senators not to delay his confirmation. A fifteen minutes hearing before the  Senate subcommittee was held and he was fully confirmed in  1965.

When he assumed his new role as Solicitor General, he won fourteen out of the nineteen Supreme Court cases he argued. According to him, serving as a Solicitor General was his best-ever position and the most effective job.

5. He was appointed by President Johnson to Serve as a Supreme Court Justice

Upon his nomination by President to serve as a justice in the united states supreme court, he received praise from prominent senators from both parties.

For five days, a hearing was held by a Senate Judiciary Committee, during the hearing, he faced criticism from some senators as Mississippi鈥檚 James O. Eastland, North Carolina鈥檚 Sam Ervin Jr., Arkansas鈥檚 John McClellan, and South Carolina鈥檚 Strom Thurmond, who opposed his liberal jurisprudence.

He was asked more than sixty questions concerning Minor aspects of the history of constitutional provisions. but he was later recommended by the committee after voting where he attain 11votes. He was later confirmed by senators to be the justice of the supreme court.

 In 1967 he took the oath of office and became the first African American to serve as a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

6. Marshall Retired when he was 82-Years-Old

Although it was not his wish to retire, due to health issues,  he retired at the age of 82 years old in 1991. When the press asked him what was wrong he said 鈥淲hat’s wrong with me? I’m old. I’m getting old and coming apart!鈥�

7. Thurgood Served as a Visiting Judge

For a whole week, he served as a visiting judge in January 1992. Thurgood was awarded an  American Bar Association鈥檚 highest award in August of the same year.

8. He was Listed as one of the Greatest African-American Leaders in History

According to a survey in1999 of black political scientists, listed him among the top 10 greatest African-American leaders in history.

According to panelists, Thurgood was the “greatest jurist of the twentieth century” since he “spearheaded the creation of the legal foundations of the civil rights movement”.

9. Thurgood Died Because of Heart Failure

At the age of 84 years old, two years after his retirement, he died because of heat failures. He was laid at the great hall of the supreme court. At least four thousand people attended his funeral to pay their last respects to Thurgood.

10. Various Government Institutions were Named after him

Baltimore, BWI Airport. Author Famartin. WIKIMEDIA

After his death, he received numerous tributes from all over the country. Baltimore airport was renamed to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in 2005.  The University of Maryland named its library after him. New York bridge with a height of 590 feet was also named after him.