Theodore McNeal

Theodore McNeal
McNeal in October 1960
Member of the Missouri Senate from the 7th district
In office 1960–1970
Personal details
Born	(1905-11-05)November 5, 1905 Helena, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	October 25, 1982(1982-10-25) (aged 76) St. Louis, Missouri
Political party	Democratic
Occupation	Union organizer, employment opportunity activist, politician

Theodore D. McNeal (November 5, 1905 – October 25, 1982) was a union organizer, employment opportunity activist, and state legislator in Missouri.[1][2][3] He was the first African American to serve in the Missouri Senate.[4][5]

He was born in Helena, Arkansas and grew up there before settling in St. Louis after high school.[1]

In 1930, McNeal joined the International Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In 1942, McNeal and attorney David M. Grant founded the St. Louis branch of the March on Washington Movement (MOWM). After years of working as a union organizer, in 1950 he became president of the organization.[6]

In 1960 he defeated incumbent state senator Ernest J. Hogan in the Democratic Party primary and won election to the Missouri Senate. He served for 10 years, helping pass landmark civil rights legislation for fairer employment practices.[1]

He served as Curator of the University of Missouri from 1970 to 1973, and in 1973 began serving as president of the Saint Louis Police Board. Furthermore, he also was the first African-American non-alumnus trustee of Washington University in St. Louis.[7]

McNeal's daughter, Betty McNeal Wheeler, was founding principal of the innovative and highly-regarded St. Louis, Missouri public school, Metro Academic and Classical High School, and the former Kennard Classical Junior Academy was re-named the Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy, in her honor, in 2022.[8] [9][10]

References

1. Christensen, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer, Gary (October 28, 1999). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 9780826260161 – via Google Books.
2. State, Missouri Office of the Secretary of (July 28, 1961). "Official Manual of the State of Missouri". Secretary of State – via Google Books.
3. Wright Sr., John A.; Wright, Sylvia A.; Wright Jr., John A. (February 15, 2021). Extraordinary Black Missourians: Pioneers, Leaders, Performers, Athletes, & Other Notables Who've Made History, 2nd Edition. Reedy Press LLC. ISBN 9781681063027 – via Google Books.
4. Finkelman, Paul (July 28, 2009). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: J-N. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-516779-5 – via Google Books.
5. "Theodore McNeal, Union Organizer and Politician born". African American Registry.
6. "Theodore D. McNeal Scrapbook | The State Historical Society of Missouri". collections.shsmo.org.
7. "Theodore D. McNeal Award | James E. McLeod Honors & Awards | Washington University in St. Louis". mcleodawards.wustl.edu.
8. "History of Betty Wheeler Classical Junior Academy". www.slps.org. October 17, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
9. "Betty McNeal Wheeler dies; founder of Metro High School". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 23, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
10. "History of Betty Wheeler CJA". www.slps.org. October 17, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.