Honoring E.D. Nixon at Alabama State University

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“Twenty-five years prior to the Montgomery bus boycott, ED Nixon was the principle black leader in Montgomery Alabama. For 25 years he was the man that was in trenches,” says Michael Eaddy. Eaddy is the godson of E.D. Nixon Jr. and Alma Johnson, Nixon’s niece and advocate. He has spent his life honoring the legacy of E.D. Nixon and his work.

“President of the NAACP, he held various positions. He was also instrumental in increasing the votings, registration for people in Montgomery. But he was… if something was not right in the community, people would say, ‘You need to call ED Nixon!'” Eaddy says.

Eaddy and numerous others from Nixon’s past came together to honor his life with a presentation and panel discussion at Alabama State University. All who came, came with kind words and memories of their friend and leader.

“He didn’t get a lot of the recognition, he didn’t get a lot of, I guess the word now is play. But he made a lot of sacrifices. He touched a lot of lines, to include mine,” says Dr. Farrell Duncombe. Duncombe is the Co-Director of the E.D. Nixon Foundation. He remembers meeting Nixon through his childhood Sunday school teacher, Rosa Parks.

“He was the one who actually gave spirit to the beginning of the movement. He was a fearless person. He would hear a complaint by somebody in the community about what the mayor has done or not done. And Mr. Nixon would simply go downtown to the mayor’s office, ‘Mr Mayor, we’ve got a problem we need to resolve,'” says Rev. Robert Graetz.

Graetz and his wife were close friends with Nixon and his family. They lived around the corner from each other, and often had dinner together. Graetz was also a driver when the boycott was in full swing; he would offer boycotters a ride to and from work so they did not have to take the buses.

“He was a strong man. He was not interested in the limelight or being out front. He was interested in getting the work done,” says Mayor of Tuskegee Johnny Ford. Ford was a close friend and supporter of Nixon. The two met when Ford just started his career in politics. They were so close, Ford delivered the eulogy at Nixon’s funeral.

This is just one of many events this week honoring the hard work that was done during and after the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Eaddy also has a children’s book narrating the life and work of E.D. Nixon in the works. The book is expected to be published sometime in February.