Organizer 1932

Leroy Scott

Leroy Scott organized the NAACP in 1932.

The Murfreesboro Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was organized under the leadership of Leroy Scott in 1932. His organization committee members were S. G. Green, Principal of Holloway High School.; H. P. Scales, owner and operator of H.

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Preston Scales and Sons Funeral Home; Dr. E. A. Davis, Ewell Willis, Dr. E. J. Jones, Dr. J. R Patterson, and William Butler, Sr., Leroy Scott served as President of the branch from 1932-1945

NAACP President 1946 - 1957

Ewell Willis

Ewell Willis was born in Gibson County, Tennessee. He moved to Murfreesboro at the age of six years old with his parents. He received his early education in the Murfreesboro public school system. He later entered the U.S. Army and upon his discharge, he was appointed commander of the American Legion.

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During his tenure as president, he was instrumental in helping General Electric and Samsonite Corporation provide opportunities for minorities. Along with Robert " Tee Ninety" Scales, Sr. and others, Willis led the first sit-ins at lunchroom counters in Murfreesboro. Willis later began receiving threatening phone calls, and white citizens began boycotting his business. During this same period, he was owner and operator of a shoe finishing and shoe dyeing business at the Ideal Barber Shop on the southside of the public square.

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Willis held several important roles throughout his life, including serving on the Murfreesboro Housing Commission, the Board of Directors for the Office of Economic Opportunity Commission for the Stone River Agency, and the Board of Directors of the International Association of Laryngostomy. He also taught classes at Middle Tennessee State University.

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After the death of Leroy Scott in 1946, Willis was elected president of the Murfreesboro branch, which he served until 1957.

NAACP President 1957 -1984

William Butler, Sr.

William H. Butler, Sr., was a lifelong resident of Murfreesboro. He attended Holloway High School and received a Bachelor of Science and a Master's degree from Tennessee State University.

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He also completed studies at Tennessee Technological University, the University of Dayton at Dayton, Ohio, Oklahoma State University, Union College at Schenectady, New York, the University of Tennessee, the Robert T. Taft Institute of Government, and Middle Tennessee State University.

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Butler was an educator in the Rutherford County School District for over 46 years. believed in serving his committee through various board appointments, membership, and leadership roles. They include - Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Rutherford, Murfreesboro Senior Citizen Advisory board, and Chairman of Wee Care Day Care Center. A 33rd degree Mason, Butler served as Worshipful Master of Murfreesboro Lodge Number 12, a member of H. Preston Scales Consistory, and a member of Hella Temple Number.

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105 Order of Mystic Shrines, member of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund of Rutherford County, Inc., a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and a member of the National and State Education Association, to name a few of his roles. Mr. Butler served as President of the Murfreesboro Branch - NAACP for 26 years and Vice-President of the State Branch NAACP for 4 years.

NAACP President 1984 - 1986

Reverend Tolbert S. Randolph

Reverend Tolbert S. Randolph was born in Rutherford County and educated in its public schools. He furthered his education at the American Baptist College Extension School in Nashville, Tennessee.

He served as Moderator of the Smithford District association from August 1981 to August 1986. Reverend Randolph served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP for 2 years.

NAACP President 1986 - 1988

Billy Ray McKinley

Billy Ray McKinley, Sr., is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and a retiree of the United States Postal Service. He is married to the former Margaret Hockett of Murfreesboro, and they have two children.

During his tenure as president, he sponsored a memorial march in honor of the slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More than 150 marchers participated. The Regional Director of NAACP, Earl Shinhoster, delivered the keynote address. He has also led the organization to lobby elected officials to increase minority hiring in the public schools, police department, fire department, banks, loan companies, and the Middle.

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Tennessee State University. The first steps were taken to organize a college chapter at Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. McKinley, Sr. served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch - NAACP for 2 years.

NAACP President 1988 - 1994

Reverend Dwight Ogleton

Reverend Dwight Ogleton was born and attended school in Davidson County, Tennessee.

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During his tenure, he established a headquarters for Community Awareness. Community action forums were held to promote voter education, while field day festivals, back-to-school rallies, and drug workshops were conducted at Patterson Park with the support of the MPD.

One of his greatest accomplishments was organizing the local celebration of the 80th Year of the NAACP at Mt. Zion Primitive Church in 1989. He established the first college chapter of the NAACP on Middle Tennessee State University's campus. In 1986, Reverend Ogleton was appointed as Vice-President of the Murfreesboro Branch - NAACP. He served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP for 6 years.

President NAACP 1994 - 2014

Reverend Goldy L. Wade

Reverend Goldy L. Wade is a native of Murfreesboro and a graduate of Holloway High School. He was elected First Vice-President from 1990 - 1994. He also served as chairman of the Legal Redress Committee from 1990 to 1994.

During his tenure represented the Murfreesboro Branch as delegate to the National and State Conventions, and sponsored local youth activities, including Out of School Field Day and Back to School Field Day.

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Reverend Wade has always been involved in the Murfreesboro community to improve race relations and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. He was appointed to the Mayor's Task Force for the Homeless. Reverend Wade served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP for 20 years.

President NAACP 2014-2016

Kenny Williams

During his tenure, Williams focused on community collaboration, voter education, and ensuring services for minority populations. He has been a vocal organizer and attendee for Veteran and Family Benefits Expos at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), aimed at helping veterans network and access available government services.

He is recognized for bridging the gap between veteran services and the local minority community, often emphasizing that many veterans are unaware of the services for which they qualify. Kenny Williams served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP for 2 years.

President NAACP 2016-2022

Katie F. Wilson

Katie was the first female to fulfill the role of president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP.

Katie Wilson served as president of the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP for 6 years.