Biographical Research - Thurgood Marshall

Lifespan: July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993

Early Family Background and Created Family Structure

Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1908. His
father William Marshall worked as a railroad porter. His mother Norma
Marshal was a teacher in baltimore. His parents were the ones that
instilled him with an appreciation of the constitution and rule of law at
a young age. Fredrick Douglas high school was the school Thurgood
attended before going to Lincoln university. He intended to study
medicine so he could become a practicing dentist. He then went to
Howard University School of Law, where he studied to become a
lawyer.

Major Career/Professional Events and Accomplishments

After graduating from law school, Marshall started a private law
practice in Baltimore. He began his 25-year affiliation with the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoplein 1934 by
representing the organization in the law school discrimination suit
Murray v. Pearson. He became a lawyer frequently seen in the
Supreme Court. In total, Marshall won 29 out of the 32 cases he
argued before the Supreme Court. Marshall was confirmed as an
Associate Justice by a Senate vote of 69–11 on August 30, 1967. He
was the 96th person to hold the position, and the first African
American.

Personal Life Themes/Belief

Thurgood was born and raised Episcopalian.
Selected Quotations
"You do what you think is right and let the law catch up"
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves
the highest tribute.”

Awards and Recognition

Presidential medal of freedom
Spingarn Medal

Death and Aftermath

Marshall died of heart failure at the National Naval Medical Center in
Bethesda, Maryland on January 24, 1993. He was buried in Arlington
National Cemetery, and he donated his papers and notes to the
Library of Congress after his death.

Lasting Impact and Contributions

There are numerous memorials to Marshall. One including an 8 foot
tall statue outside the Maryland state house. The office building for the
federal court system located on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. is
named in honor of Marshall.