Al Edwards (146)

Albert Ely "Al" Edwards was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 146 for 13 terms from 1978 to 2007, with a brief return from 2009 to 2011. He is best known as the principal proponent of Juneteenth as a Texas state holiday, authoring House Bill 1016 in 1979 , which later became a federal holiday in 2021. Notable achievements include chairing the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Budget and Oversight of the Ways and Means Committee, and serving on the Appropriations Committee; leading a 2004 voting rights march for Prairie View A&M University students; founding Juneteenth, U.S.A. and Operation Justus; and serving as Texas State Director for Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School in Houston's Fifth Ward; earned a degree from Texas Southern University in 1966.
• Early Career: Worked as a realtor and mortgage broker, founding Al Edwards Real Estate and Mortgage Company and Al Edwards & Associates.
• Political Experience: Elected at age 41 to the Texas House from Houston's District 146; served 26–28 years total; Chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus ; founded the Texas Black Legislative Weekend; National Vice Chairman and Chairman of the DNC Black Caucus; involved in Operation PUSH and anti-apartheid demonstrations.