Judge Eugene Gadsden dies at 88
Savannah Morning News 10 Aug 2000
By Kate Wiltrout and Pamela E. Walck
Savannah son and civil rights pioneer left his mark in the courts and community.
Retired Superior Court Judge Eugene H. Gadsden, whose leadership and legal expertise anchored Savannah's civil rights movement, died Wednesday morning at home.
Gadsden, a Savannah native, was 88. The son of a prominent African-American family, Gadsden went to law school in North Carolina, then came home to apply what he'd learned. He was the first black member of both the Savannah Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1979, at age 67, Gadsden was appointed to the Chatham County Superior Court -- another first for an African American. He subsequently ran for re-election and held the post until retiring in 1992.
Those who knew Gadsden best say he will be remembered for his gentle spirit, compassion, integrity and sense of fairness.
"He was a very loving person," said Ida J. Gadsden, his wife of 60 years. "He was always there for us."
His dedication extended deep into the community.
"He was a fine judge and a gentleman of the old school. We will certainly miss him," said Senior Superior Court Judge Frank Cheatham Jr., who served on the bench with Gadsden.
As Chatham County's first African-American Superior Court judge, Gadsden was well known among local attorneys for his sense of fairness.
"(He) had compassion for those that stood before him," said Commissioner Martin Jackel, an attorney. "He had a vast storehouse of patience with lawyers."
When Jackel was struggling to help the county bar launch its pro bono program, Gadsden quickly supported the idea. Pro bono is time attorneys donate to those who can't afford legal services or work for charitable organizations.
"He applauded the work I did, which meant a great deal for me," Jackel said. "From time to time, he would call me 'Mr. Pro Bono.' "
For former state Sen. Bobby Hill, Gadsden was more than just a mentor and former legal partner.
"He was like a father to me," Hill said. "Not only was he a great lawyer, but he was a man of principle who lived a good life."
Long before he was a judge, Gadsden was instrumental in the local civil rights movement. Many remember him for the countless hours he devoted.
He defended protesters arrested during lunch counter sit-ins and filed lawsuits against police brutality. He influenced the city's political landscape as co-chair of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's political action council in the 1960s and '70s.
"He was a pioneer," said W.W. Law, a longtime president of the local NAACP and lifelong civil rights activist. "He brought character, integrity and dependability to NAACP efforts to break down segregation and discrimination."
Law said Gadsden's contributions significantly sped up the local fight for integration -- and helped keep protests from turning violent, unlike some Southern cities.
"He brought a local dimension to the black struggle that nobody had brought to the table before," Law said.
Gadsden's legal training was one of his greatest weapons.
"There were those that took to the streets, but he took to the courts," said Cheatham. "He pursued the law, and he won."
Before Gadsden came on board, Law had to rely on NAACP lawyers in Atlanta and New York. Gadsden's knowledge of local politics and history were invaluable, as was his family background.
As a native son, a trained lawyer and a member of a well-known family, Gadsden earned the respect of blacks and whites alike, Law said.
His contributions came on top of other professional obligations.
Both Law and Gadsden would gather with other activists after working full days as postmen, preachers, teachers and lawyers to plan and prepare into the wee hours of the morning.
Gadsden's cool, even-keeled manner was admired by black and white leaders during times of turmoil.
Former mayor John Rousakis governed during the 1970s, as Savannah painfully inched toward integration. He looked to Gadsden for advice when the city hit rough spots, Rousakis said. Gadsden willingly shouldered the responsibility.
"He was a pillar of strength in this community when we needed him the most," Rousakis said. "He wasn't afraid to lead. We had many who could lead who were hiding out of the fear of change taking place."
He did it in order to make a difference, his wife said.
"And he did make a difference," she said. "There's no question about that. He took chances in order to get things done."
Judge Gadsden was a member of First Congregational Church.
Judge Eugene H. Gadsden: a timeline
By Larry Peterson, Savannah Morning News
10 Aug 2000
Feb. 4, 1912 -- Eugene H. Gadsden born in Savannah. He is later educated in Savannah public schools.
1934 -- Graduates from Georgia State Industrial College (now Savannah State University).
1937 -- Graduates from Lincoln University.
1953 -- Receives law degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham.
1956 -- Admitted to the Georgia Bar.
May 1962 -- Admitted to the U.S. District Court to practice as an attorney.
September 1962 -- The only black candidate in the race for the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee, he was defeated. He finished 29th in a field of 30 candidates.
December 1962 -- Appointed to the board of managers of the Savannah Public Library.
February 1963 -- Enters the race for the Third District seat in the State Senate. J.J. Tribble wins the election.
December 1965 -- Admitted to the Savannah Bar Association as the first black member.
1968-74 -- Named assistant Chatham County attorney.
August 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Commission on public Education by the White House.
November 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Committee on Education.
October 1970 -- Appointed a recorder pro tem.
March 1971 -- Elected president of the Legal Aid Society.
April 1971 -- Presides for the first time in Recorder's Court.
March 1972 -- Named president of the Legal Aid Office of Savannah.
June 1974 -- Selected as deputy director of the Savannah agency of the Georgia State Board of Workmen's Compensation. He resigned as chairman of the NAACP political advisory committee to take the post. He also left his post as an assistant county attorney.
March 1978 -- Invited to the Hibernian Society's banquet.
June 1979 -- Appointed by Gov. George Busbee to one of two Chatham Superior Court judgeships.
April 1980 -- NAACP honors Gadsden for his 30 years of public service.
November 1980 -- Wins election to his seat on the court, withstanding a challenge from Republican J. Walter Cowart.
April 1981 -- Named to serve on a three-judge Superior Court Sentence Review Panel.
June 1984 -- Given the R.A. "Papa" Dent Award by the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
December 1984 -- Sworn into a new term on the Superior Court.
1988 -- Runs for re-election and wins.
March 1989 -- Legislation is passed to allow Gadsden to become eligible for state retirement benefits as he hadn't served the 10 years required, but had passed the age of 75, the mandated age.
November 1989 -- Honored at the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund dinner.
May 1990 -- Receives the Robert E. Robinson Award from the Savannah Bar Association.
June 1992 -- Receives the Oglethorpe Leadership Award from the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
December 1992 -- Retires from the Superior Court bench to senior judge status.
December 1997 -- Selected as one of four parade marshals for the 1998 Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Celebration and Parade.
October 1999 -- Receives the Arthur M. Gignilliat Jr. Award during the 11th Annual Toby Buttimer Awards Dinner.
Researched and compiled by Julia C. Muller
Black History Spotlight
Savannah Herald excerpt 06 Feb 2013
In 1962, Gadsden along Attorney B. Clarence Mayfield, both veterans of the local NAACP efforts were the lead attorneys for (L.Scott) Stell vs. Chatham County Board of Education.
The case was based on Jan. 18, 1962, 36 black Savannahians - with Stell as the first named plaintiff - filed suit in federal court on behalf of their children to force Savannah-Chatham County to follow federal law.
The parents asked U.S. District Judge Frank M. Scarlett to order Board President D. Leon McCormack and his 12 fellow white board members to cease operating what they said was a bi-racial system that assigned white students to white schools and black students to black schools.
Savannah Morning News 10 Aug 2000
By Kate Wiltrout and Pamela E. Walck
Savannah son and civil rights pioneer left his mark in the courts and community.
Retired Superior Court Judge Eugene H. Gadsden, whose leadership and legal expertise anchored Savannah's civil rights movement, died Wednesday morning at home.
Gadsden, a Savannah native, was 88. The son of a prominent African-American family, Gadsden went to law school in North Carolina, then came home to apply what he'd learned. He was the first black member of both the Savannah Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1979, at age 67, Gadsden was appointed to the Chatham County Superior Court -- another first for an African American. He subsequently ran for re-election and held the post until retiring in 1992.
Those who knew Gadsden best say he will be remembered for his gentle spirit, compassion, integrity and sense of fairness.
"He was a very loving person," said Ida J. Gadsden, his wife of 60 years. "He was always there for us."
His dedication extended deep into the community.
"He was a fine judge and a gentleman of the old school. We will certainly miss him," said Senior Superior Court Judge Frank Cheatham Jr., who served on the bench with Gadsden.
As Chatham County's first African-American Superior Court judge, Gadsden was well known among local attorneys for his sense of fairness.
"(He) had compassion for those that stood before him," said Commissioner Martin Jackel, an attorney. "He had a vast storehouse of patience with lawyers."
When Jackel was struggling to help the county bar launch its pro bono program, Gadsden quickly supported the idea. Pro bono is time attorneys donate to those who can't afford legal services or work for charitable organizations.
"He applauded the work I did, which meant a great deal for me," Jackel said. "From time to time, he would call me 'Mr. Pro Bono.' "
For former state Sen. Bobby Hill, Gadsden was more than just a mentor and former legal partner.
"He was like a father to me," Hill said. "Not only was he a great lawyer, but he was a man of principle who lived a good life."
Long before he was a judge, Gadsden was instrumental in the local civil rights movement. Many remember him for the countless hours he devoted.
He defended protesters arrested during lunch counter sit-ins and filed lawsuits against police brutality. He influenced the city's political landscape as co-chair of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's political action council in the 1960s and '70s.
"He was a pioneer," said W.W. Law, a longtime president of the local NAACP and lifelong civil rights activist. "He brought character, integrity and dependability to NAACP efforts to break down segregation and discrimination."
Law said Gadsden's contributions significantly sped up the local fight for integration -- and helped keep protests from turning violent, unlike some Southern cities.
"He brought a local dimension to the black struggle that nobody had brought to the table before," Law said.
Gadsden's legal training was one of his greatest weapons.
"There were those that took to the streets, but he took to the courts," said Cheatham. "He pursued the law, and he won."
Before Gadsden came on board, Law had to rely on NAACP lawyers in Atlanta and New York. Gadsden's knowledge of local politics and history were invaluable, as was his family background.
As a native son, a trained lawyer and a member of a well-known family, Gadsden earned the respect of blacks and whites alike, Law said.
His contributions came on top of other professional obligations.
Both Law and Gadsden would gather with other activists after working full days as postmen, preachers, teachers and lawyers to plan and prepare into the wee hours of the morning.
Gadsden's cool, even-keeled manner was admired by black and white leaders during times of turmoil.
Former mayor John Rousakis governed during the 1970s, as Savannah painfully inched toward integration. He looked to Gadsden for advice when the city hit rough spots, Rousakis said. Gadsden willingly shouldered the responsibility.
"He was a pillar of strength in this community when we needed him the most," Rousakis said. "He wasn't afraid to lead. We had many who could lead who were hiding out of the fear of change taking place."
He did it in order to make a difference, his wife said.
"And he did make a difference," she said. "There's no question about that. He took chances in order to get things done."
Judge Gadsden was a member of First Congregational Church.
Judge Eugene H. Gadsden: a timeline
By Larry Peterson, Savannah Morning News
10 Aug 2000
Feb. 4, 1912 -- Eugene H. Gadsden born in Savannah. He is later educated in Savannah public schools.
1934 -- Graduates from Georgia State Industrial College (now Savannah State University).
1937 -- Graduates from Lincoln University.
1953 -- Receives law degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham.
1956 -- Admitted to the Georgia Bar.
May 1962 -- Admitted to the U.S. District Court to practice as an attorney.
September 1962 -- The only black candidate in the race for the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee, he was defeated. He finished 29th in a field of 30 candidates.
December 1962 -- Appointed to the board of managers of the Savannah Public Library.
February 1963 -- Enters the race for the Third District seat in the State Senate. J.J. Tribble wins the election.
December 1965 -- Admitted to the Savannah Bar Association as the first black member.
1968-74 -- Named assistant Chatham County attorney.
August 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Commission on public Education by the White House.
November 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Committee on Education.
October 1970 -- Appointed a recorder pro tem.
March 1971 -- Elected president of the Legal Aid Society.
April 1971 -- Presides for the first time in Recorder's Court.
March 1972 -- Named president of the Legal Aid Office of Savannah.
June 1974 -- Selected as deputy director of the Savannah agency of the Georgia State Board of Workmen's Compensation. He resigned as chairman of the NAACP political advisory committee to take the post. He also left his post as an assistant county attorney.
March 1978 -- Invited to the Hibernian Society's banquet.
June 1979 -- Appointed by Gov. George Busbee to one of two Chatham Superior Court judgeships.
April 1980 -- NAACP honors Gadsden for his 30 years of public service.
November 1980 -- Wins election to his seat on the court, withstanding a challenge from Republican J. Walter Cowart.
April 1981 -- Named to serve on a three-judge Superior Court Sentence Review Panel.
June 1984 -- Given the R.A. "Papa" Dent Award by the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
December 1984 -- Sworn into a new term on the Superior Court.
1988 -- Runs for re-election and wins.
March 1989 -- Legislation is passed to allow Gadsden to become eligible for state retirement benefits as he hadn't served the 10 years required, but had passed the age of 75, the mandated age.
November 1989 -- Honored at the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund dinner.
May 1990 -- Receives the Robert E. Robinson Award from the Savannah Bar Association.
June 1992 -- Receives the Oglethorpe Leadership Award from the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
December 1992 -- Retires from the Superior Court bench to senior judge status.
December 1997 -- Selected as one of four parade marshals for the 1998 Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Celebration and Parade.
October 1999 -- Receives the Arthur M. Gignilliat Jr. Award during the 11th Annual Toby Buttimer Awards Dinner.
Researched and compiled by Julia C. Muller
Black History Spotlight
Savannah Herald excerpt 06 Feb 2013
In 1962, Gadsden along Attorney B. Clarence Mayfield, both veterans of the local NAACP efforts were the lead attorneys for (L.Scott) Stell vs. Chatham County Board of Education.
The case was based on Jan. 18, 1962, 36 black Savannahians - with Stell as the first named plaintiff - filed suit in federal court on behalf of their children to force Savannah-Chatham County to follow federal law.
The parents asked U.S. District Judge Frank M. Scarlett to order Board President D. Leon McCormack and his 12 fellow white board members to cease operating what they said was a bi-racial system that assigned white students to white schools and black students to black schools.
Judge Eugene Gadsden dies at 88
Savannah Morning News 10 Aug 2000
By Kate Wiltrout and Pamela E. Walck
Savannah son and civil rights pioneer left his mark in the courts and community.
Retired Superior Court Judge Eugene H. Gadsden, whose leadership and legal expertise anchored Savannah's civil rights movement, died Wednesday morning at home.
Gadsden, a Savannah native, was 88. The son of a prominent African-American family, Gadsden went to law school in North Carolina, then came home to apply what he'd learned. He was the first black member of both the Savannah Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1979, at age 67, Gadsden was appointed to the Chatham County Superior Court -- another first for an African American. He subsequently ran for re-election and held the post until retiring in 1992.
Those who knew Gadsden best say he will be remembered for his gentle spirit, compassion, integrity and sense of fairness.
"He was a very loving person," said Ida J. Gadsden, his wife of 60 years. "He was always there for us."
His dedication extended deep into the community.
"He was a fine judge and a gentleman of the old school. We will certainly miss him," said Senior Superior Court Judge Frank Cheatham Jr., who served on the bench with Gadsden.
As Chatham County's first African-American Superior Court judge, Gadsden was well known among local attorneys for his sense of fairness.
"(He) had compassion for those that stood before him," said Commissioner Martin Jackel, an attorney. "He had a vast storehouse of patience with lawyers."
When Jackel was struggling to help the county bar launch its pro bono program, Gadsden quickly supported the idea. Pro bono is time attorneys donate to those who can't afford legal services or work for charitable organizations.
"He applauded the work I did, which meant a great deal for me," Jackel said. "From time to time, he would call me 'Mr. Pro Bono.' "
For former state Sen. Bobby Hill, Gadsden was more than just a mentor and former legal partner.
"He was like a father to me," Hill said. "Not only was he a great lawyer, but he was a man of principle who lived a good life."
Long before he was a judge, Gadsden was instrumental in the local civil rights movement. Many remember him for the countless hours he devoted.
He defended protesters arrested during lunch counter sit-ins and filed lawsuits against police brutality. He influenced the city's political landscape as co-chair of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's political action council in the 1960s and '70s.
"He was a pioneer," said W.W. Law, a longtime president of the local NAACP and lifelong civil rights activist. "He brought character, integrity and dependability to NAACP efforts to break down segregation and discrimination."
Law said Gadsden's contributions significantly sped up the local fight for integration -- and helped keep protests from turning violent, unlike some Southern cities.
"He brought a local dimension to the black struggle that nobody had brought to the table before," Law said.
Gadsden's legal training was one of his greatest weapons.
"There were those that took to the streets, but he took to the courts," said Cheatham. "He pursued the law, and he won."
Before Gadsden came on board, Law had to rely on NAACP lawyers in Atlanta and New York. Gadsden's knowledge of local politics and history were invaluable, as was his family background.
As a native son, a trained lawyer and a member of a well-known family, Gadsden earned the respect of blacks and whites alike, Law said.
His contributions came on top of other professional obligations.
Both Law and Gadsden would gather with other activists after working full days as postmen, preachers, teachers and lawyers to plan and prepare into the wee hours of the morning.
Gadsden's cool, even-keeled manner was admired by black and white leaders during times of turmoil.
Former mayor John Rousakis governed during the 1970s, as Savannah painfully inched toward integration. He looked to Gadsden for advice when the city hit rough spots, Rousakis said. Gadsden willingly shouldered the responsibility.
"He was a pillar of strength in this community when we needed him the most," Rousakis said. "He wasn't afraid to lead. We had many who could lead who were hiding out of the fear of change taking place."
He did it in order to make a difference, his wife said.
"And he did make a difference," she said. "There's no question about that. He took chances in order to get things done."
Judge Gadsden was a member of First Congregational Church.
Judge Eugene H. Gadsden: a timeline
By Larry Peterson, Savannah Morning News
10 Aug 2000
Feb. 4, 1912 -- Eugene H. Gadsden born in Savannah. He is later educated in Savannah public schools.
1934 -- Graduates from Georgia State Industrial College (now Savannah State University).
1937 -- Graduates from Lincoln University.
1953 -- Receives law degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham.
1956 -- Admitted to the Georgia Bar.
May 1962 -- Admitted to the U.S. District Court to practice as an attorney.
September 1962 -- The only black candidate in the race for the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee, he was defeated. He finished 29th in a field of 30 candidates.
December 1962 -- Appointed to the board of managers of the Savannah Public Library.
February 1963 -- Enters the race for the Third District seat in the State Senate. J.J. Tribble wins the election.
December 1965 -- Admitted to the Savannah Bar Association as the first black member.
1968-74 -- Named assistant Chatham County attorney.
August 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Commission on public Education by the White House.
November 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Committee on Education.
October 1970 -- Appointed a recorder pro tem.
March 1971 -- Elected president of the Legal Aid Society.
April 1971 -- Presides for the first time in Recorder's Court.
March 1972 -- Named president of the Legal Aid Office of Savannah.
June 1974 -- Selected as deputy director of the Savannah agency of the Georgia State Board of Workmen's Compensation. He resigned as chairman of the NAACP political advisory committee to take the post. He also left his post as an assistant county attorney.
March 1978 -- Invited to the Hibernian Society's banquet.
June 1979 -- Appointed by Gov. George Busbee to one of two Chatham Superior Court judgeships.
April 1980 -- NAACP honors Gadsden for his 30 years of public service.
November 1980 -- Wins election to his seat on the court, withstanding a challenge from Republican J. Walter Cowart.
April 1981 -- Named to serve on a three-judge Superior Court Sentence Review Panel.
June 1984 -- Given the R.A. "Papa" Dent Award by the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
December 1984 -- Sworn into a new term on the Superior Court.
1988 -- Runs for re-election and wins.
March 1989 -- Legislation is passed to allow Gadsden to become eligible for state retirement benefits as he hadn't served the 10 years required, but had passed the age of 75, the mandated age.
November 1989 -- Honored at the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund dinner.
May 1990 -- Receives the Robert E. Robinson Award from the Savannah Bar Association.
June 1992 -- Receives the Oglethorpe Leadership Award from the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
December 1992 -- Retires from the Superior Court bench to senior judge status.
December 1997 -- Selected as one of four parade marshals for the 1998 Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Celebration and Parade.
October 1999 -- Receives the Arthur M. Gignilliat Jr. Award during the 11th Annual Toby Buttimer Awards Dinner.
Researched and compiled by Julia C. Muller
Black History Spotlight
Savannah Herald excerpt 06 Feb 2013
In 1962, Gadsden along Attorney B. Clarence Mayfield, both veterans of the local NAACP efforts were the lead attorneys for (L.Scott) Stell vs. Chatham County Board of Education.
The case was based on Jan. 18, 1962, 36 black Savannahians - with Stell as the first named plaintiff - filed suit in federal court on behalf of their children to force Savannah-Chatham County to follow federal law.
The parents asked U.S. District Judge Frank M. Scarlett to order Board President D. Leon McCormack and his 12 fellow white board members to cease operating what they said was a bi-racial system that assigned white students to white schools and black students to black schools.
Savannah Morning News 10 Aug 2000
By Kate Wiltrout and Pamela E. Walck
Savannah son and civil rights pioneer left his mark in the courts and community.
Retired Superior Court Judge Eugene H. Gadsden, whose leadership and legal expertise anchored Savannah's civil rights movement, died Wednesday morning at home.
Gadsden, a Savannah native, was 88. The son of a prominent African-American family, Gadsden went to law school in North Carolina, then came home to apply what he'd learned. He was the first black member of both the Savannah Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1979, at age 67, Gadsden was appointed to the Chatham County Superior Court -- another first for an African American. He subsequently ran for re-election and held the post until retiring in 1992.
Those who knew Gadsden best say he will be remembered for his gentle spirit, compassion, integrity and sense of fairness.
"He was a very loving person," said Ida J. Gadsden, his wife of 60 years. "He was always there for us."
His dedication extended deep into the community.
"He was a fine judge and a gentleman of the old school. We will certainly miss him," said Senior Superior Court Judge Frank Cheatham Jr., who served on the bench with Gadsden.
As Chatham County's first African-American Superior Court judge, Gadsden was well known among local attorneys for his sense of fairness.
"(He) had compassion for those that stood before him," said Commissioner Martin Jackel, an attorney. "He had a vast storehouse of patience with lawyers."
When Jackel was struggling to help the county bar launch its pro bono program, Gadsden quickly supported the idea. Pro bono is time attorneys donate to those who can't afford legal services or work for charitable organizations.
"He applauded the work I did, which meant a great deal for me," Jackel said. "From time to time, he would call me 'Mr. Pro Bono.' "
For former state Sen. Bobby Hill, Gadsden was more than just a mentor and former legal partner.
"He was like a father to me," Hill said. "Not only was he a great lawyer, but he was a man of principle who lived a good life."
Long before he was a judge, Gadsden was instrumental in the local civil rights movement. Many remember him for the countless hours he devoted.
He defended protesters arrested during lunch counter sit-ins and filed lawsuits against police brutality. He influenced the city's political landscape as co-chair of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's political action council in the 1960s and '70s.
"He was a pioneer," said W.W. Law, a longtime president of the local NAACP and lifelong civil rights activist. "He brought character, integrity and dependability to NAACP efforts to break down segregation and discrimination."
Law said Gadsden's contributions significantly sped up the local fight for integration -- and helped keep protests from turning violent, unlike some Southern cities.
"He brought a local dimension to the black struggle that nobody had brought to the table before," Law said.
Gadsden's legal training was one of his greatest weapons.
"There were those that took to the streets, but he took to the courts," said Cheatham. "He pursued the law, and he won."
Before Gadsden came on board, Law had to rely on NAACP lawyers in Atlanta and New York. Gadsden's knowledge of local politics and history were invaluable, as was his family background.
As a native son, a trained lawyer and a member of a well-known family, Gadsden earned the respect of blacks and whites alike, Law said.
His contributions came on top of other professional obligations.
Both Law and Gadsden would gather with other activists after working full days as postmen, preachers, teachers and lawyers to plan and prepare into the wee hours of the morning.
Gadsden's cool, even-keeled manner was admired by black and white leaders during times of turmoil.
Former mayor John Rousakis governed during the 1970s, as Savannah painfully inched toward integration. He looked to Gadsden for advice when the city hit rough spots, Rousakis said. Gadsden willingly shouldered the responsibility.
"He was a pillar of strength in this community when we needed him the most," Rousakis said. "He wasn't afraid to lead. We had many who could lead who were hiding out of the fear of change taking place."
He did it in order to make a difference, his wife said.
"And he did make a difference," she said. "There's no question about that. He took chances in order to get things done."
Judge Gadsden was a member of First Congregational Church.
Judge Eugene H. Gadsden: a timeline
By Larry Peterson, Savannah Morning News
10 Aug 2000
Feb. 4, 1912 -- Eugene H. Gadsden born in Savannah. He is later educated in Savannah public schools.
1934 -- Graduates from Georgia State Industrial College (now Savannah State University).
1937 -- Graduates from Lincoln University.
1953 -- Receives law degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham.
1956 -- Admitted to the Georgia Bar.
May 1962 -- Admitted to the U.S. District Court to practice as an attorney.
September 1962 -- The only black candidate in the race for the Chatham County Democratic Executive Committee, he was defeated. He finished 29th in a field of 30 candidates.
December 1962 -- Appointed to the board of managers of the Savannah Public Library.
February 1963 -- Enters the race for the Third District seat in the State Senate. J.J. Tribble wins the election.
December 1965 -- Admitted to the Savannah Bar Association as the first black member.
1968-74 -- Named assistant Chatham County attorney.
August 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Commission on public Education by the White House.
November 1970 -- Appointed to the Georgia State Advisory Committee on Education.
October 1970 -- Appointed a recorder pro tem.
March 1971 -- Elected president of the Legal Aid Society.
April 1971 -- Presides for the first time in Recorder's Court.
March 1972 -- Named president of the Legal Aid Office of Savannah.
June 1974 -- Selected as deputy director of the Savannah agency of the Georgia State Board of Workmen's Compensation. He resigned as chairman of the NAACP political advisory committee to take the post. He also left his post as an assistant county attorney.
March 1978 -- Invited to the Hibernian Society's banquet.
June 1979 -- Appointed by Gov. George Busbee to one of two Chatham Superior Court judgeships.
April 1980 -- NAACP honors Gadsden for his 30 years of public service.
November 1980 -- Wins election to his seat on the court, withstanding a challenge from Republican J. Walter Cowart.
April 1981 -- Named to serve on a three-judge Superior Court Sentence Review Panel.
June 1984 -- Given the R.A. "Papa" Dent Award by the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
December 1984 -- Sworn into a new term on the Superior Court.
1988 -- Runs for re-election and wins.
March 1989 -- Legislation is passed to allow Gadsden to become eligible for state retirement benefits as he hadn't served the 10 years required, but had passed the age of 75, the mandated age.
November 1989 -- Honored at the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund dinner.
May 1990 -- Receives the Robert E. Robinson Award from the Savannah Bar Association.
June 1992 -- Receives the Oglethorpe Leadership Award from the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.
December 1992 -- Retires from the Superior Court bench to senior judge status.
December 1997 -- Selected as one of four parade marshals for the 1998 Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Celebration and Parade.
October 1999 -- Receives the Arthur M. Gignilliat Jr. Award during the 11th Annual Toby Buttimer Awards Dinner.
Researched and compiled by Julia C. Muller
Black History Spotlight
Savannah Herald excerpt 06 Feb 2013
In 1962, Gadsden along Attorney B. Clarence Mayfield, both veterans of the local NAACP efforts were the lead attorneys for (L.Scott) Stell vs. Chatham County Board of Education.
The case was based on Jan. 18, 1962, 36 black Savannahians - with Stell as the first named plaintiff - filed suit in federal court on behalf of their children to force Savannah-Chatham County to follow federal law.
The parents asked U.S. District Judge Frank M. Scarlett to order Board President D. Leon McCormack and his 12 fellow white board members to cease operating what they said was a bi-racial system that assigned white students to white schools and black students to black schools.
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