Mercer, Christopher C., Jr.

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A Tribute to One of Arkansas\u27s Greatest Pioneers of Progress

University of Arkansas at Little Rock: UALR Bowen Law Repository

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review Volume 30 Issue 2 Article 1 2008 A Tribute to One of Arkansas's Greatest Pioneers of Progress Christopher C. Mercer Jr. Follow this and additional works at: https://lawrepository.ualr.edu/lawreview  Part of the Judges Commons Recommended Citation Christopher C. Mercer Jr., A Tribute to One of Arkansas's Greatest Pioneers of Progress, 30 U. ARK. LITTLE ROCK L. REV. 231 (2008). Available at: https://lawrepository.ualr.edu/lawreview/vol30/iss2/1 This Essay is brought to you for free and open access by Bowen Law Repository: Scholarship & Archives. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review by an authorized editor of Bowen Law Repository: Scholarship & Archives. For more information, please contact mmserfass@ualr.edu. A Tribute to One of Arkansas's Greatest Pioneers of Progress Cover Page Footnote The Honorable George Howard, Jr., passed away on April 21, 2007, at the age of eighty-two. He was a man of many firsts, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law is proud to have an endowed professorship in his name and honor. What follows is one of the essays from a collection of tributes to the late Judge Howard, written by some of his strongest friends, colleagues, and admirers. Given the impact of Judge Howard's civil rights work in the state of Arkansas, it is altogether fitting that this tribute to his legacy is included in this Law Review issue that also commemorates the 50th Anniversay of the integration of Central High School as well as other continuing legal efforts in civil rights. This essay is available in University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review: https://lawrepository.ualr.edu/lawreview/vol30/iss2/1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MEMORIALS FOR PIONEERS TOMANKINDIN THE MATTER OF:A Pioneer of ProgressJudge George Howard, Jr.United States District Court No. 2007-In PerpetuityEastern District, Western Division of ArkansasLate of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, ArkansasSunrise May 13, 1924-Sunset April 21, 2007A TRIBUTE TO ONE OF ARKANSAS'S GREATEST PIONEERS OFPROGRESSComes Christopher C. Mercer, Jr., a life long friend of the late JudgeGeorge Howard, Jr., fully realizing the frailty of his ability to properly ca-nonize this worthwhile life, however having been requested, and thereforefeeling constrained, to express words of tribute to this Pioneer of Progress,states for posterity, as follows, that:1. I am in a position to give a first hand account of the legacy of the lateJudge George Howard, Jr., one of Arkansas's foremost Pioneers of Progress,because I was born and grew up with him in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He wasborn on May 13, 1924, and I was born on March 27, 1924. We both attendedMerrill High School, which was the segregated high school for blacks. Wewere both in law school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in theearly 1950s, and both carried on the general practice of law throughout Ar-kansas for over twenty-five years before he was appointed a federal judge in1980.2. A pioneer is described as one who prepares the way, a pathfinder, anexplorer, brave, courageous, heroic, and forever remembered for his ex-ploits. Judge Howard exemplified all of those qualities "And Then Some,"as will hereinafter be explained.3. In the Good Book it is written: "Dust thou art, and unto dust shaltthou return." Genesis 3:19. However, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in hispoem A Psalm of Life says: "Dust thou art, to dust returneth was not spokenof for the soul."4. The life given us by nature is short, but the memory of a well spentlife is eternal. Mortal life ends, but the soul and memory lives eternally.UALR LAW REVIEW5. Cicero said--"Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things."Shakespeare said--"Praising what is lost, makes remembrance dear." It isfitting to praise Judge George Howard, Jr., who has been physically lost tous, but whose memory will live eternally.6. Different cultures have different ways to memorialize and rememberthose who precede us to the ultimate reward-a. Some build monuments of stone;b. Some erect shrines of iron;c. The Pharaohs built pyramids and tombs;d.However, the greatest shrine is kept in the hearts and mindsdown through each succeeding generation, and that is where we will keepthe memory of Judge Howard-in our hearts and minds.7. Everyone leaves a memorial of his own building which might impactsociety, some to a greater extent than others.8. What distinguishes mankind from the beast of the field is not theconstruction of monuments, but the privilege of memory.9. Only a few persons, in the history of mankind, have had some uniquequality that endeared them to their fellowman. Judge George Howard, Jr.,was the epitome of the old adages that "Mighty Oaks from Little AcornsGrow," and "A Little Piece of Leather, But Well Put Together."10. As noted above, I have known Judge Howard since we were kids,about eighty years, and have been a personal witness to all of the trails hehas blazed as a fearless and tireless warrior for justice, always fighting thecause of the underdog, and especially dedicated to the battle for civil rightsfor his people. To accomplish these ends he prepared himself with a legaleducation, being one of the six pioneers at the University of Arkansas atFayetteville School of Law (U. of A.).11. The U. of A. School of Law has established a "Six PioneersRoom" in the atrium of the Leflar Law Center, which carries the photo and abiographical sketch of these six pioneers, namely with entrance dates re-spectively follow: (1) Silas Hunt, February 1948; (2) Jackie Shorpshire,September of 1948; (3) George Haley, September 1949; (4) myself, Chris-topher C. Mercer, Jr., September 1949; (5) Wiley Branton, February 1950;and (6) George Howard, Jr., September 1950. Of those first six, all of themexcept Silas Hunt, who died prematurely in August 1948, finished lawschool and became members of the Arkansas Bar. The only two living, as ofthis writing, are George Haley and myself.12. As a pioneer and leader in his quest for civil rights for all, JudgeHoward served as a member and Chairman of the Arkansas Advisory Com-mittee to the United States Civil Rights Commission from 1966 to 1970,President of the Pine Bluff Chapter, and President of the Arkansas StateConference of Branches for the NAACP. He served seven (7) years on theArkansas State Claims Commission, four as Chairman, a term on the Arkan-sas Supreme Court, being appointed thereto by Governor David Pryor, and[Vol. 30A TRIBUTE TO JUDGE GEORGE HOWARD, JR.was named by Governor Bill Clinton to the newly created Arkansas Court ofAppeals, where he served until his appointment to the federal bench by Pres-ident Jimmy Carter in 1980.13. At his investiture to the federal bench, I remember the apprecia-tion he expressed to three of his contemporaries, myself, George Haley, andJackie Shorpshire, for being present. I shall never forget the tears of joy Isaw in his eyes as George Haley stated in remarks that:Judge Howard, I am greatly privileged to share in this occasion, for Iknow you to be a man of great courage and legal ability. And I know youto be an honest man and a just man... a family man who with your de-voted wife, Vivian, have developed a beautiful, talented family. I knowyou to be a man of God, who will attempt as the prophet Amos admo-nished us to "let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as amighty stream." Here indeed, distinguished leaders ... ladies and gen-tlemen, is Arkansas and America at its best. The history we make heretoday ought to be known over the nation.. . indeed, over the world. Un-fortunately, such creditable, positive news affecting blacks receives littlenews coverage. But if it were negative, we would be inundated with fargreater exposure.14. As complimentary and satisfying as Judge Howard's service wasto the bench, the bar, and the community, his greatest comfort came fromhis involvement with his church, New Town Missionary Baptist Church,3600 West 2nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This was his neighborhoodchurch from early childhood, and he never waivered in his allegiance to it.15. There was only one other area that shared as high allegiance as hischurch, and that was his family. His wife, Vivian Smith Howard, was theapple of his eye, and the love of his life for over sixty years. He was justlyproud of and devoted to his four (4) children, Sarah Etoria, George III, RisieRene, and Vivian Alycia.16. I think I can summarize his true greatness as a pioneer of progressin the three words that a business executive said was the secret to his suc-cess-"And Then Some." The business executive said that the differencebetween average people and great people was that great people not only didwhat was expected of them, but "and then some." Judge Howard became agreat person because he not only did what was expected of him but "andthen some."17. I feel that his heritage and his gift to future generations of Arkan-sans can be summarized by the six greatest words on earth, expressed bythree of the greatest minds who ever lived, who said: (1) Socrates-"KnowThyself"; (2) Cicero-"Control Thyself"; and (3) Christ-"Give Thyself."18. Judge Howard was the essence of the utterances by those threegreat men, and he will be "giving himself' throughout eternity with the in-2008]UALR LAW REVIEWspiration that future generations will receive from using the federal buildingin Pine Bluff that has been named in his honor.WHEREFORE, having duly attested to the greatness of Judge GeorgeHoward, Jr., I feel truly honored to have been his friend and recommend tofuture generations that his life is one they should emulate, and if they dothey will be richly rewarded. And we will be forever indebted to JudgeHoward because he "Did Some Good in His Neighborhood."Respectfully submitted,Christopher C. Mercer, Jr.** Christopher C. Mercer, Jr., is a life-long friend of Judge George Howard, Jr. He is anattorney in private practice in Little Rock, Arkansas, and has been practicing law for overfifty-three years.234 [Vol. 30

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A Tribute to One of Arkansas\u27s Greatest Pioneers of Progress

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