HOUSTON-  Al Edwards was born in Houston, Texas. The sixth child out of 16 born to Rev. E.L. Edwards, Sr. and Josephine Radford Edwards, he grew up in Houston and graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School. He entered college and received his B.A. degree from Texas Southern University in 1966.
At age 41, he entered politics and was elected to the Texas State Legislature from Houston’s District 146. His first major goal was to establish a holiday that recognized former slaves’ emancipation from slavery. In 1979, legislation recognizing Juneteenth Day, passed the Texas State Legislature and was signed into law. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday recognized as a state holiday or state celebration by 31 U.S. states. Celebrated on June 19th, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.  Edwards has also founded real estate and mortgage companies.

In 1983, he was appointed as a member of the board of Operation PUSH and  served as the Texas State Director of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s two presidential campaign runs (1984 and 1988). In 1986, he founded “Operation Justus,” a community faith-based organization that serves as a referral service for persons with social problems and concerns. Edwards left the Texas legislature in 2007 after 28 years.

He was elected to return to the Texas House again in 2009. Upon return, he served on the Appropriations, Defense & Veteran’s Affairs, and Rules & Resolutions Committees. This legislative session, he authored many major bills which became law.

Rep. Edwards passed HB 2154, which will generate for Texas a projected $105 million over the next two years, as well as fund physician loan repayment of 225 doctors next year and 900 doctors in four years which practice in underserved areas; in addition, the funding for the small business franchise exemption up to $1 million was contingent upon this bill’s passage. He also passed HB 3206 which will ensure that fair and consistent tax credits are awarded to owner-applicants of pollution control equipment; this change will help save local jurisdictions an untold amount of money. In addition he closed a loophole in sex offender registration statutes by requiring sex offenders who claim to be “homeless” to physically check-in to local law enforcement authorities at least once every 30 days.  He joint-authored successful legislation requiring utility companies to sell bonds to recover costs associated with restoring the electric system instead passing rate increases to consumers. Rep Edwards also passed legislation to strengthen the Juneteenth Commission by ensuring that the availability of $112,000 in funding for the perpetual care of the Juneteenth monument. Rep Edwards also successfully sponsored two pieces of legislation that will save Texas an estimated $13.5 million  by reducing parole process delays and protect the long-term solvency of the Crime Victims Compensation Fund which is crucial to helping victims recover in the aftermath of a crime.

We salute State Rep. Al Edwards as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored as such to news@aframnews.com.