Dr. General Marshall,
A former caddie at Lions, General Marshall was a beloved member of the Austin community and a key advocate for saving Lions Municipal Golf Course from commercial development. He worked tirelessly to preserve the history of Muny and its unique civil rights history. His work with Save Muny was instrumental in achieving the course’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places.
As someone who bore witness to the desegregation of the course and who spent a lifetime enjoying the game of golf with his fellow citizens of all backgrounds, General Marshall was one of the greatest proponents for public golf in his hometown.
His work to tell the story of how “Muny” played a critical role in the achievement of equal rights for African Americans in Austin was a defining part of his life.
General Garwood Marshall, PHD
Born in 1936 in Clarksville, one of the oldest black neighborhoods located in the heart of West Austin, General Marshall was a graduate of The Original L.C. Anderson High School in 1953 and received his BA at Morehouse College in 1957, his Masters at The University of Texas at Austin in 1966 and his Doctorates in Mathematics and Education at the University of Houston in 1976.
His teaching career in mathematics spanned more than 44 years, beginning in 1957 with his first job at William James High School, Statesboro, Georgia, followed by his return to Austin and employment at Huston-Tillotson College (University), 1966.
During his years in Georgia, Dr. Marshall was selected as the Georgia State Chamber of Commerce Regional Teacher of the Year and state finalist for Teacher of the Year.
During his years at Huston-Tillotson University, he received two teaching excellence awards and coordinated the founding of The Austin Pre-freshman Engineering Program (Aus-Prep), a member of the Texas Pre-freshman Engineering Program, whose goal was to increase the number of minority engineers in Texas.
His was active in civic, social and religious organizations including: Life member-Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; Austin Revitalization Authority, Vice Chair-Board of Directors; East Austin Economic Development Corporation, Chair-Board of Directors; Travis County Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board of Directors; Greater Austin Council on Alcoholism, Vice Chairman-Board of Directors; Save Muny(City Municipal Golf Course) Board Member; First Tee of Greater Austin-Responsibility Award recipient, 2018; recipient of the Family of the Year Award, Man of the Year Award and Distinguished Christian Service Award.
He was an avid golfer, and joined the Save Muny Board of Directors nearly 50 years ago in 1973 and was active in the effort to save Lion Municipal from commercial development.
In addition to his life-long work to support positive economic and social growth in emerging neighborhoods, Dr. Marshall was a committed supported of the effort to save Lions from commercial development. Watch the video below to learn more about Dr. Marshall.
Learn more about the legacy of General Marshall at the links below.
