1. Opal Lee was born on October 7,1926 and is an American retired teacher, counselor, and activist in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.
21 Facts About Opal Lee
1. 2.
Opal Lee was born in Marshall, Texas on October 7,1926.
3.
Opal Lee was the oldest of three children of Mattie and Otis Flake.
4.
Opal Lee's paternal great-grandmother was born into slavery in Louisiana.
5.
Opal Lee married and the couple had four children; they divorced after five years.
6.
In 1952, Opal Lee graduated from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, receiving her Bachelor's degree in elementary education.
7.
Opal Lee taught at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15 years, working nights at Convair to support her children.
8.
In 1967 she married Dale Opal Lee, when she was a teacher at McCoy Elementary School and he was the principal at Morningside Elementary.
9.
Opal Lee later attended North Texas State University where she earned her master's degree in Counseling and Guidance.
10.
Opal Lee was a member of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Community Action Agency board, Evans Avenue Business Association board, Tarrant County Habitat for Humanity board and Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity.
11.
Opal Lee currently serves on the Unity Unlimited, Inc Board.
12.
On May 14,2023 Opal Lee received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of North Texas.
13.
On May 11,2024 Opal Lee received an honorary doctorate degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
14.
Opal Lee helped found the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, alongside civil rights activist Lenora Rolla.
15.
Opal Lee helped campaign for Ann Richards, Texas Gubernatorial candidate and Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
16.
Opal Lee promoted the idea by leading 2.5 miles walks each year, representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas.
17.
Opal Lee was hoping to plead the case for a federal holiday directly to President Barack Obama.
18.
Opal Lee was an honored guest at the bill signing ceremony, receiving the first of many pens Biden used to sign the document.
19.
Opal Lee was named the 2021 "Texan of the Year" by The Dallas Morning News for her activism on behalf of Black Texans.
20.
Opal Lee was included in the 2021 book Unsung Heroes for operating a food bank, farm, and community garden throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
21.
In 2024, Opal Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden.