Desegregation of Lions Municipal Golf Course Plaque

A plaque of unassuming aluminum stands before you. It tells a monumental story. This is the Desegregation of Lions Municipal Golf Course Plaque. It commemorates a pivotal moment in American civil rights history, right here at the Lions Municipal Golf Course. Commonly known as “Muny,” this golf course is far more than just a place to tee off. In the heart of Texas, Muny became a symbol of change long before the Civil Rights Act. Picture this: It’s 1950, the year after the Supreme Court’s decision in Sweatt v. Painter, a landmark case that challenged segregation at the University of Texas Law School. Although a victory for civil rights, Jim Crow laws still held a tight grip on the South. Now, imagine two young African American youths, one of them a nine-year-old caddie named Alvin Propps, daring to play on a course reserved for whites. They are caught and detained, their actions a direct challenge to the status quo. Word quickly reaches Austin’s mayor, Taylor Glass. He confers with the city council. In a courageous act, they collectively decide not to press charges. With that single decision, Lions Municipal Golf Course becomes the first public golf course in the South to peacefully desegregate. This quiet act of defiance resonated far beyond the manicured greens of Muny. It paved the way for the integration of other public spaces in Austin. Even boxing legend Joe Louis, a vocal opponent of Jim Crow, played a round at Muny. The Desegregation of Lions Municipal Golf Course Plaque is a testament to the power of courage. It reminds us that change often starts with small acts of defiance, echoing through time to shape a more just future.