T.J. Paterson was born in Waxahachie, Texas and grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. He went to Bishop College in Marshall, Texas and majored in physical education. He then moved to Lubbock to work for a private school. Upon meeting and marrying his wife, he stayed in Lubbock. Patterson was the first African American elected to the Lubbock City Council and served in that role for two decades.

Eric Strong was born in 1952 and raised in Lubbock, Texas. As a child, he grew up in East Lubbock—the African American area of segregated Lubbock. Upon graduating from Dunbar High School, he attended Texas A&M University Prairie View and then obtained a masters degree from Texas Tech University. Strong worked for Texas Tech University and upon retirement began dedicated his life to the preservation and development of East Lubbock. He now helps lead Lubbock’s Roots Historical Arts Council Roots Historical Arts Council.

Rose Wilson was born outside of Waco and moved to Lubbock as a young married adult. She raised her children in the city. Wilson became the first African American women to become president of Lubbock’s NAACP—when she was working as a maid. Because of her work, she faced push back by some community economic elites. Ron McLaurin moved to Lubbock to attend law school at Texas Tech University. Beforehand, he had obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio and had served in the military. After law school, he stayed in Lubbock and was the city’s only African American attorney for much of his career.

Maggie Trejo was born in Nebraska when her parents were working as migrant farm workers. As a young child her family returned to Lubbock. She grew up in Lubbock and was educated in “white” schools despite being ethnically Mexican. After high school, she married, had a child, and returned to university at Texas Tech University as an adult. Trejo was involved in LULAC and became the first Mexican American City Council Member when Lubbock turned to single member districts.