by Sheryl E. Taylor
A product of the ’50s and ’60s, he grew up in East Texas and graduated as valedictorian of a segregated high school under the shadow of the Jim Crow era. His mother was a teacher and his grandparents were farmers. Now a partner with Andrews Kurth LLP law firm, he serves as general counsel to the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority and special counsel to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston. He also is the former city attorney for Houston. He graduated from the University of Houston in 1969 with a bachelor’s in political science. He highly recommends drinking a hot cup of green tea with cinnamon and peppermint to start the morning. As he sipped his tea, Gene Locke had a conversation with The University of Houston Magazine.
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Why did you choose the University of Houston?
Universities were just opening up to African American students in 1965. I remember seeing the protests at the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama and the violence associated with them. I was quite proud of The University of Texas because my uncle became the first African American professor there—the first at a major southern institution. What turned the tide for me was UH’s decision to integrate the athletics program, with the recruitment of Warren McVea, Elvin Hayes, and Don Chaney. That sent a signal: here’s an institution that is opening up. It’s interesting that race relations played the primary factor in my decision to go to UH.
Describe what it was like to attend the university in the ’60s.
I was an eighteen-year-old young man free from the bounds of my parents’ house and just being on a college campus was fascinating. The girls were pretty, and I was free … it was wonderful. What was difficult was the fact that the university was not ready to receive, accept, and fully integrate African American students. We were there physically, but not as an organic part of the university. At every turn, the door was closed or there was no welcome sign to all the things integral to university life because they were seasoned with racial overtones and bitter reminders that we weren’t part of the whole package. It was an exciting time, but I struggled with the thought: “Does the university want me here?”
What circumstances led you to become a student activist?
There was the presumption that African American students were incompetent. I had a very personal reaction to the low expectations that people had of me. It was a blow to my pride that people thought I couldn’t do the very things that I knew I could do. Eventually that led me to look around campus and see that people who looked like me were not in positions of power, responsibility, or authority. My only encounters with people of color at the university were with the custodial staff. Also, the ’60s was an exciting political time—from the civil rights movement to the black cultural movement. For me, it became a sense of obligation.
| "UH graduates from all walks of life contribute to the greatness of the city, state, and country. The unique nature of this university is its ability to handle diversity." |
What were some of your proudest moments as a UH student?
Engaging in student politics; getting the first black history class on campus; and seeing the late Lynn Eusan being crowned the first black Homecoming queen. And more recently ... as a UH fan when we played Grambling State University. The game was symbolic of how the university is recognizing and reaching out to an important sector of this community. I was so proud to be a part of that game. I have a T-shirt from the game, and I hope to have another one next year.
How did your experiences as a UH student influence your career choice?
I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. The education and experiences I received at UH helped me find out who I was … the good and the bad. Beyond my student activist days, there were many days that I asked myself whether I was prepared to take an exam. That fear of being unprepared has served me well as a lawyer … I pledged to myself that I would never have that feeling when I represented someone. UH also gave me the opportunity to dabble in politics, which I’ve done all my life. I really found out who Gene Locke was at the University of Houston.
What motivates you to remain connected to your alma mater?
I love the university. UH offers so many opportunities for generations to come while continuing to be a major contributor to this community. I learned as a UH student that if you want things to change, get in and get your hands dirty. And since I want UH to continue to change, I’m going to keep getting my hands dirty in UH’s affairs. I’m a permanent asset—and thorn—in the university’s side.
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