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First Extraordinary Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 19
BY SENATOR MURRAY
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana upon the death of Dr. Horace Bynum, Sr., pharmacist and civil rights
leader.
WHEREAS, it was with great sadness to learn of the death of Dr. Horace Bynum Sr.,
a pharmacist who became an entrepreneur and a civil rights leader who died at the age of 94,
on Thursday, April 7, 201l; and
WHEREAS, he was born on November 2, 1916 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and
educated in public schools attending Thomy Lafon and graduating from Mc Donough 35
High School in 1932; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Xavier University in 1936 with a B.S. degree in
Pharmacy, Horace Bynum, Sr., worked in the United States Post Office; and
WHEREAS, in 1947, he opened a pharmacy business later to become Bynum & Sons
as part of New Orleans' first black-owned strip shopping center, which also included a barber
shop, a shoe store, a grocery store and a health clinic; and
WHEREAS, Bynum & Sons operated for over sixty years in the communities of the
St. Bernard and Desire housing projects; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1950s, Horace Bynum, Sr., joined partnerships that built
more than 200 homes throughout New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, he was active in the civil-rights movement, working with people such
as Dutch Morial, A.P. Tureaud and the Rev. Avery Alexander to get jobs for African
Americans and to desegregate the city's public schools; and
WHEREAS, when he succeeded Morial as president of the local NAACP chapter in
1965, Horace Bynum, Sr., succeeded at helping African Americans get work at the
Coca-Cola bottling plant, Holsum Bakeries and NASA's Michoud facility, and he also
worked to boost voter registration and desegregate the Sugar Bowl, Municipal Auditorium
and the New Orleans Recreation Department; and SR NO. 19 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Horace Bynum, Sr., was an officer of the New Orleans and State
NAACP, member of the National Pharmaceutical Association, Phi Delta Mu Fraternity and
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Xavier
University; and
WHEREAS, Horace Bynum Sr., worked full-time until Hurricane Katrina destroyed
his pharmacies in August 2005, and as his home also sustained serious damage, he tore it
down and rebuilt it within six months, even though he was 89 years old; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Ethel Frinkle Bynum; two sons, Adolph
Bynum Sr., and Horace Bynum Jr.; a daughter, Lauren Rodarte; a brother, Alvin Bynum;
seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, because of his numerous accomplishments, Horace Bynum, Sr., will
forever be remembered by the people of Louisiana for his integrity, dignity, and the
inspiration he left in the hearts of all who support civil rights.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby acknowledge with gratitude the bravery, courage, and outstanding service of
Horace Bynum, Sr., and extends sincere regrets and condolences to his family on the
occasion of his death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ethel
Frinkle Bynum.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE