Sen. Royal Bolling Was Distinguished Legislator
Sen. Royal L. Bolling Sr. of Roxbury and Martha’s Vineyard, a
distinguished legislator and statesman, decorated World War II veteran
and patriarch of Boston’s most prominent African-American political
family, died July 16, surrounded by family and friends at his beloved
Martha’s Vineyard home, following a brief illness. He was 82.
He was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., on June 19, 1920, to Granville
and Irene Bolling. In 1928, the family moved to Framingham. At an early
age he demonstrated his trademark charisma, political acumen and unique
ability to bring people together to overcome differences. In a campaign
for his high school class presidency, he solicited and received
endorsement letters from then-Gov. Leverett Saltonstall and Boston mayor
James Michael Curley. Beating the odds, he became Framingham High
School’s first African-American class president. This experience
launched his lifelong passion for politics and public service.
In 1943, while enrolled at Howard University, he married Thelma
Greene and joined the 92nd Army Infantry Division, the famous “Buffalo
Soldiers.” He earned the rank of first lieutenant and was a highly
decorated combat veteran, earning the Silver Star, Purple Heart, four
Battle Stars and the Combat Infantry Badge for his extraordinary
leadership and valor under fire.
To combine his drive to be a successful businessman with his desire
to serve the public, after the war, he attended Harvard University and
began a career in real estate. This was a perfect avenue for this
natural entrepreneur. Through his real estate business, which he
maintained for five decades, he was able to support his growing family
and help hundreds of families achieve their dream of home ownership.
In 1961, Mr. Bolling was elected to the Massachusetts House of
Representatives, launching his famous campaign slogan, “Get Rolling with
Bolling.” In 1982 he was elected to the state Senate. During his eight
years in the Senate and 12 years in the House, he authored over 200
legislative initiatives, many of them groundbreaking. A strong advocate
for equal access to education, his authorship of the Racial Imbalance
Law led to the desegregation of Boston public schools. He secured the
initial funding for the planning and site designation for Roxbury
Community College and for the METCO program. Mr. Bolling was the first
African-American to chair a standing committee in the House of
Representatives. He served as chairman of the Public Service Committee
to the state Senate and created and chaired the first Hispanic
Commission in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A consummate diplomat widely respected for his negotiation skills,
Mr. Bolling was chairman of the Special Legislative Committee on Foreign
Trade and was the distinguished guest of heads of states on four
continents.
His love for public service became a family tradition. Royal L.
Bolling Jr., his eldest son, was the youngest African-American in
Massachusetts history ever elected to the House of Representatives in
1972. His second eldest, Bruce C. Bolling, was the first
African-American City Council president in Boston history. As senator,
state representative and city councilor, this family trio made national
history as the first ever father and sons to serve simultaneously in
three different legislative bodies.
Mr. Bolling now joins his beloved wife of 60 years, Thelma (Angela)
Bolling, who died on June 15, 2002. He also joins his daughters, Diane
and Rhonda. He is survived by his brothers, Donald and Orrie Tucker; his
children, Royal Jr., Bruce, Blair, Thelma (AwRa), Richard (Yom),
Carolyn, Deborah, Charlene, Andrea (Ra’nna) and Lorraine, and many
nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
There will be two services for Senator Bolling. In Boston, a service
will be held Wednesday, July 24, at the Reggie Lewis Center at Roxbury
Community College, 1350 Tremont street, Roxbury. Viewing hours are from
1 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a funeral service from 6 to 8 p.m. A
memorial service will also be held on Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday,
July 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Portuguese-American Club, 137
Vineyard avenue, Oak Bluffs.
In lieu of flowers, the Bolling family requests that donations be
sent to the Royal L. Bolling Sr. Foundation, c/o Fleet Bank at Dudley
Square, 114 Dudley street, Roxbury, MA 02119; Fleet Bank at Grove Hall,
470 Blue Hill avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121, or Compass Bank, P.O. Box
323, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.