A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of frederick douglas alexander, former member of the general assembly, in observance of black history month.
Whereas, Frederick Douglas "Fred" Alexander was born in the City of Charlotte on February 21, 1910, to Zechariah and Louise Bates McCullough Alexander; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander attended the public schools in Charlotte and in 1931 graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander returned to Charlotte, where he began working in his father's funeral home, and quickly became active in local politics; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander grew to be a strong leader in helping to advance the causes of African‑Americans in Charlotte by supporting voter registration drives, advocating the appointment of black police officers and mail carriers, requesting that business courses be taught at black high schools, and urging improved health care for blacks; and
Whereas, in 1949, Fred Alexander served as executive secretary of the Citizens Committee for Political Action, which sponsored African‑American candidates for membership on the city council and the school board; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander became the first African‑American to serve on the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce in 1962 and the Mecklenburg County Board of Public Welfare in 1963; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander was elected to his first term on the Charlotte City Council in 1965, becoming the Council's first African‑American member since the 1890s, and he served until 1974; and
Whereas, during his tenure, Fred Alexander served as Charlotte's first African‑American mayor pro tem from 1971 to 1973 and was instrumental in the passage of an antidiscrimination ordinance in 1968, the removal of the fence separating the black Pinewood and the white Elmwood cemeteries in 1969, the construction of a fire station for northwest Charlotte in 1970, and the preservation of the Thompson Orphanage Chapel; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander was elected to the General Assembly and served with honor and distinction for three terms as a member of the Senate from 1975 to 1980; and
Whereas, while a State senator, Fred Alexander served as vice‑chair of the Higher Education Committee and rendered service as a member of such committees as Finance, Constitutional Amendments, and Local Government and Regional Affairs; and
Whereas, in 1979, Fred Alexander sponsored legislation designating the second week in February as Black History Week in North Carolina; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander also made contributions as president of the Mint Museum of Art, as a trustee of Johnson C. Smith University, and as a member of the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Council on Human Relations and the Southern Regional Council; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander served for more than 20 years as an agent and member of the board of directors of the Southern Fidelity Mutual Insurance Company and as manager of Double Oaks Apartments; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander was a member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Shriners and was an active member of the University Park Baptist Church, where he served as Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee, and as a Sunday schoolteacher; and
Whereas, Fred Alexander died on April 13, 1980, leaving to mourn his wife, Frances Dugas Alexander, who died in 1986, and a daughter, Theodora; and
Whereas, it is especially fitting that Fred Alexander, a man who worked so hard to improve the lives of African‑Americans in this State, be commemorated during the observance of Black History Month; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Frederick Douglas Alexander and expresses gratitude and appreciation for his life and devoted service to his community and State.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Frederick Douglas Alexander.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 2nd day of March, 2005.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives