The Passing of Judge McMillian: Recalling a Pioneering African-American Lawyer and Judge

Judge Theodore “Ted” McMillian, who grew up in a era of racism and then broke the color barrier with a list of “firsts” – first African-American to become a state prosecutor in Missouri, first to become a state judge and first to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals here – died Wednesday (Jan. 18, 2006).

Fifty years after putting on a judge’s robe, he was still writing opinions from his office at the federal courthouse downtown. He would have turned 87 on Jan. 28.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: “A lifetime of firsts comes to an end”

I appeared before Judge McMillian when he was on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and agree with the following description: “… reserved, modest, kind, delightful, and diligent.” “Theodore McMillian, RIP.” And very smart and no-nonsense!

His background is a wonderful story:

Judge McMillian was the oldest of 10 children. He was inspired by his grandmother, who left breakfast warming on a coal stove before rushing off to work before sunrise. At Vashon High School, Judge McMillian was class president and graduated in 3 1/2 years, first in his class.

Judge McMillian was the great-grandson of a slave. He worked his way through college as a janitor and through law school as a train porter. Although he graduated first in his class at St. Louis University Law School in 1949, no downtown law firm would hire him. He and a friend decided to open their own firm.

Read the rest.

And here’s an oral history interview of Judge McMillian, full of more details about growing up in segregated St. Louis and rising to great success.
Interesting, though it cuts off mysteriously before he answers this question:

What words of advice would you like to share with young people about your profession or just life in general? What wisdom can you give us?