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THE
SPHINX
Trib ute to Sid ncy
February, 1939
K. Kcdnfiond
Lloyd Gaines' Case
Brothers Lloyd Gaines—Sidney R. Redmond p E W persons have had the honor that is bestowed upon the writer of this requested thumbnail sketch of a great community leader and fighter—there is a difference you know. Brother Sidney R. Redmond can be used as an inspiration to the sons and daughters of Alphas for years immemorial. There was a celebration on 7/23/02 in Jackson, Mississippi when Attorney Sidney Dillion Redmond and Ida Revels Redmond were blessed with an heir. Attorney S. D. Redmond of Jackson is a prominent attorney in his own right. At the time of this writing, Mr. Redmond's father has a very active practice in Jackson, where he is still considered one the South's best lawyers demanding the respect of all citizens, white and colored. Sidney Redmond evidences promise as a leader in grade and high school. The community expected much when he finished Howard University and Howard Law school. Why Brother Redmond selected St. Louis for his practice is another story in itself. For Brother Redmond's curricula achievements, just ask any member of Sigma chapter, and for further details find any chapter member of 1919, who watched him trod through the weary sands and take the oath which he continues to carry forward. Upon arrival in St. Louis he immediately affiliated with Epsilon Lambda and has continued to be a most active member. To better understand the co-counselor of the now famous Gaines Case one must follow Brother Redmond in his local practice. Brother Redmond's
leadership has always been apparent—here are two of his outstanding contributions to the citizenry of St. Louis. In every St. Louis movement affecting Negroes, one usually finds the name of Brother Redmond. The Vashon High School Case (1936-37) was the largest and rankest local abuse of individual and group rights. The St. Louis Board of Education was attempting to build another Negro grade school building on the present over-crowded Vashon High School property. As one of the attorneys, Brother Redmond filed an injunction to prevent the city from building on that site. Th e courts awarded a victory to Brother Redmond and his Negro constituents—and if you know St. Louis that was no small victory. Brother Redmond briefed his case on the plea that the site provided less play area per child then the law allows, plus health morals and the well being of the children were unfavorably affected. St. Louisans are still talking about the municipal case where Brothers Redmond, Henry D. Espy (Epsilon Lambda, '38), sought to prevent discrimination against Negroes in a municipally owned opera house. Prior to the institution of the suit, Negroes were allowed to sit only in the last two rows of the balcony. Legally, t h e suit was lost, but Negroes won a moral victory by the Auditorium changing its policy—again, if you know St. Louis and its politics, this case assumes an importance locally, approaching the Gaines Case. Many more cases lccally would easily describe the calibre of our illustrative Brother. Let it suffice to aid that Brother Redmond is a member of the National Board of the N. A. A. C. P.; Grand Attorney for the Knights of Pythias; former President of the Mound City Bar Association, and a weekly contributor to Negro periodicals through his column "Legal Hints." May I refresh your memory on the far-reaching decision of the Supreme Court involving Brother Lloyd Gaines vs University of Missouri. It was in the summer of 1935 that Brother Gaines, a graduate of Lincoln University, the state supported school at Jefferson City, made his first attempt to be admitted to the Law School at Columbia (University of Missouri). The Gaines case was filed in 1936, by Attorneys S. R- Redmond, Henry D. Epsy, and Charles H. Houston (all Alphas) in Columbia, Missouri to mandamus (Continued on Page 39