Gary has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic racism and promoting civil rights.
Gary L. Bledsoe is a distinguished civil rights attorney and social justice advocate with decades of experience fighting for equity and fairness for all Texans through his legal and volunteer work and leadership.
Bledsoe has helped lead efforts that resulted in the selection of the first female and black Texas Rangers, the installation of video cameras in Austin Police Vehicles, fair testing for Austin police officers, the overturning by courts of discriminatory election maps adopted in 2003 and 2011, and the City’s funding of a foundation for the education of eligible minority youth. As President of the Texas NAACP since 1991 and former Acting Dean of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Gary has dedicated his career to dismantling systemic racism and promoting civil rights. His efforts have earned him numerous accolades and solidified his reputation as a pivotal figure in the fight for justice.
Gary’s passion for civil rights was ignited early in life, inspired by Thurgood Marshall and the Civil Rights Movement. He earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law, where he serves as the permanent class president of the Class of 1976. His portrait hangs in the University law school, a testament to his enduring legacy and influence.
Throughout his career, Gary has specialized in public interest, employment, and civil rights law. His work with the NAACP, where he chairs the National Legal Committee and the National Housing Committee and vice-chairs the National Environmental Justice Committee, has driven significant civil rights changes, including dismantling racial and gender barriers in the Texas Department of Public Safety and addressing police misconduct in Austin. Under his leadership, the Texas NAACP has intensified efforts to combat voter suppression, ensure fair housing, and improve opportunities in education for minority communities.
Gary’s ability to inspire and mobilize communities has significantly contributed to the advancement of civil rights and the ongoing quest for equality and justice in America.
Gary’s negotiation of scholarships for African-American students and his tenure as interim dean at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law highlight his commitment to education and fostering future legal professionals. Bledsoe has employed a number of University of Texas School of Law students in his law firm over the years.
Bledsoe remains committed to making the University the best that it can be so that all people feel welcome to come and thrive there. Notably, an all-white college chapter of the NAACP was formed in the 1940s to help desegregate the University. Bledsoe has continued to work to bring about collaboration between different groups in that same vein. In Austin, he co-founded Black Brown Dialogues on Policy.
Under his leadership, the Texas NAACP has intensified efforts to combat voter suppression, ensure fair housing, and improve opportunities in education for minority communities, and prior to the recent far-right move in State leadership he joined in many bi-partisan coalitions to address the preservation of the Top 10% law in Texas, criminal justice reform such as cameras in police vehicles, racial profiling or minimum training for police officers among many other initiatives.
Awards & Recognition
Johnnie Cochran Trailblazer Award
The American Association for Justice
Lifetime Achievement Award
National Bar Association
Lawyer of the Year, Prosecutor Assistance Division
Texas Attorney General
Young Lawyer of the Year Award
Travis County Bar Association
Clarence Darrow Award
Harris County Democratic Lawyer’s Association
Frances Farenthold Award
Texas Democratic Lawyer’s Association
Clarence Darrow Award
Harris County Democratic Lawyer’s Association
Frances Farenthold Award
Texas Democratic Lawyer’s Association
Virgil C. Lott Medal