Mayor Sylvester announced earlier today that former state rep. Al Edwards died at the age of 83.

Most famously known as the father of Juneteenth, Edwards drafted the legislation for Juneteenth to become a statewide holiday during his first year in office in 1979. He served in the Texas House for 30 years from 1979 to 2007 and 2009 to 2011. His actions to recognize the day when slaves in Texas found out that they were free was implemented in several other states. Towards the end of his political career, he led a march with over 5,000 people in Waller County to help Prairie View A&M University students be able to vote according to his Wikipedia profile.

Beyond his days in government, Edwards was also an ordained minister and a real estate broker. He was also an entrepreneur with his real estate and mortgage company and Juneteenth, U.S.A.

Edwards is a native of Houston and served on the front line of the civil rights movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend Jesse Jackson, Mr. Carl Stocks, Reverend William (Bill) Lawson, and others.

Edwards leaves behind his children -Al II, Alana and Jason; and his ex-wife, Lana.