HISTORY

Birth of the Foundation

During the fall of 2002, Councilman Don Smith gathered residents and committed businesses and civic leaders in Missouri City, Texas, in a collaboration to bring an event of purpose and substance to their community.

The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation was founded to highlight and honor the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation as it related to the State of Texas and the long-awaited pledge of freedom it carried for the slave population confined within the territory.

We honor this occasion by creating and supporting events that will positively teach, recognize, and demonstrate the importance of this hallowed day in American History.

Texas State Representative Al Edwards sponsored House Bill 1016 to make June 19th (Juneteenth) a state holiday. The bill passed in 1979, and the MCJCF, along with many other grateful organizations and citizens throughout the state of Texas, thank Representative Al Edwards for his dedication and tireless effort in making Juneteenth an official State of Texas holiday.

Bringing positive attention to African-Americans, while celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a lead sponsor of the bill to make Juneteenth a national holiday. She and Sen. John Cornyn introduced the bill that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. l

Rep. Al Edwards

"The father of the Juneteenth Holiday in Texas"

Former Texas State Representative

District 146