Troy in Pike County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

John Robert Lewis Hall

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 7, 2021

1. John Robert Lewis Hall Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built in 1929 and originally named for Gov. Bibb Graves, this building was renamed in 2020 in memory of U.S. Rep. Lewis, a central figure in the U.S. civil rights movement. Nicknamed "the boy from Troy" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he was the youngest speaker in the famed 1963 March on Washington and was a key figure in the Selma- to-Montgomery March that sped the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Georgia's 5th District until his death in 2020. Rep. Lewis held the Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Troy University.

Erected 2020 by Troy University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.

Location. 31° 48.02′ N, 85° 57.414′ W. Marker is in Troy, Alabama, in Pike County. Marker can be reached from University Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 University Ave, Troy AL 36081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. Bibb Graves Hall (a few steps from this marker); McCall Hall (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cowart Hall (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Cowart Hall (about 600 feet away); Troy University (about 600 feet away); Shackelford Hall (about 700 feet away); Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall Of Honor (about 700 feet away); Pace Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Troy.

John Robert Lewis Hall and marker (on far right). image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 7, 2021

2. John Robert Lewis Hall and marker (on far right).

John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020) image. Click for full size.

Public Domain, 2006

3. John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020)

John Robert Lewis Hall areas of instruction. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, March 7, 2021

4. John Robert Lewis Hall areas of instruction.

Previously named the Bibb Graves Hall. John Lewis once applied for admission to Troy University and was refused, but he became a friend to the university in later years. Bibb Graves, a former Alabama governor, was a leader in the Ku Klux Klan.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 153 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.