DSC #92, Inducted 1982

 

The Hon. Bro. Newton was born on March 15, 1928, in Fairfield, Alabama. Following high

school, he traveled to Wilberforce University to obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree. During his

time as an undergraduate, at the age of 17, Newton became a member of Phi Beta Sigma

Fraternity, Inc.  After Hon. Bro. Newton graduated from Wilberforce he furthered his education at

Boston University, where he earned his doctorate from the School of Law in 1952. Hon. Bro.

Newton intended to attend law school at the University of Alabama, but the state of Alabama

was not prepared to integrate with its state law school, and so they paid him to attend law

school at Boston University. While in Boston, the Hon. Bro. Newton was active in Phi Beta

Sigma’s Boston Alumni Chapter, “Pi Beta Sigma.” It was also at Boston University where he met

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was enrolled as a seminary student at the time. The two of

them would have an enduring relationship where Bro. Newton would serve as his friend and

legal counsel during the civil rights era.

After he graduated from law school, Newton served in the United States Army's 325th Infantry

Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1952 to September 1954 during the Korean

War era. He was a private first class and worked as a defense councilor in the judge advocate

section. Upon completion of his tour in the army, he moved to Birmingham, Alabama. He set up

a general practice law office where he worked as a civil rights attorney. He became a member of

the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and filed numerous lawsuits that were

aimed at defeating segregationist laws. He represented King during the Selma to Montgomery

marches. Newton also filed the first lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He

also worked on Rosa Parks' defense following her arrest for refusing to move from the "Whites Only" section of a bus.

During his time as an attorney, the Hon. Bro. Newton also worked on Rosa Parks’ defense after

her arrest and represented many African Americans who were arrested during the civil rights

movement. Newtown ran for Fairfield City Council in 1956. Richard Arrington Jr., a childhood

friend and the mayor of Birmingham, appointed Newton as the city attorney of Birmingham. He

represented Blacks who were arrested during the Birmingham riot of 1963. From 1972 to 1978,

he served as a judge in Brownville, Alabama. He was elected to the Alabama House of

Representatives in 1986 and was elected as the speaker pro tempore in 1998, becoming the

first Black speaker pro tempore in Alabama's history. He served in the role until 2010, when

Republicans became the majority party. While a member of the Alabama House, Newton

campaigned for a constitutional convention to replace the Constitution of Alabama, written in

1901, which he contended contains language that disenfranchises blacks and the poor.

The Hon. Bro. Newton was elected to serve as the International President of Phi Beta Sigma

from 1981-1984. In 1982 Hon Brother Newton was inducted into the Distinguished Service

Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. as DSC # 92.

Honorable Brother Newton died following a long illness on September 11, 2013. After his

death, Seth Hammett described Newton as "a gentleman and a scholar"; while Robert J.

Bentley called Newton a "fine gentleman";, saying they "had a strong mutual respect for each

other."