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A RESOLUTION honoring the life and legacy of Reverend Alfred Daniel "A.D." 1
King. 2
WHEREAS, although Alfred Daniel King, called "A.D." by family and friends, 3
lived in the shadows of his famous brother, Martin Luther King, Jr., he was a devoted 4
minister, civil rights leader, and courageous advocate for justice whose work profoundly 5
impacted the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States; and 6
WHEREAS, Alfred Daniel Williams King was born on July 30, 1930, in Atlanta, 7
Georgia. A.D. was the third child of Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King, Sr. 8
A.D. married on June 17, 1950, to Naomi Barber, with whom he had five children: Alfred 9
Daniel, Jr., Alveda, Vernon, Derek, and Darlene; and 10
WHEREAS, as a youth A.D. King strongly resisted his father’s ministerial urgings, 11
but he eventually began assisting his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 1959, A.D. 12
graduated from Morehouse College, and that same year he left Eb enezer to become 13
pastor of Mount Vernon First Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia; and 14
WHEREAS, A.D. King was a participant in the African American freedom 15
struggle, often appearing at his brother’s side in movements in Atlanta and Birmingham 16
during the figh t for civil rights. A.D. King was arrested with his brother Martin Luther 17
King, Jr., and 70 others while participating in an October 1960 lunch counter sit -in in 18
Atlanta; and 19
WHEREAS, in 1963, A.D. King became a leader of the Birmingham Campaign 20
while pastoring at First Street Baptist Church in nearby Ensley, Alabama. On May 11, 21
1963, A.D. King’s house was bombed. In August of that year, after a bomb exploded at 22
the home of a prominent black lawyer in downtown Birmingham, thousands of outraged 23
citizens poured into the city streets intent on revenge; and 24
WHEREAS, as rocks were thrown at gathering policemen and the situation 25
escalated, A.D. King climbed on top of a parked car and shouted to the rioters in an 26
attempt to quell their fury, "My friends, we have ha d enough problems tonight. If you’re 27
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going to kill someone, then kill me....Stand up for your rights, but with nonviolence"; and 1
WHEREAS, in 1965, A.D. King moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he became 2
pastor at Zion Baptist Church (1965 -1968). It became the largest African American 3
Baptist church in Kentucky. A.D. King also founded the Kentucky Christian Leadership 4
Council and assisted in the organization of the Committee for Open Housing's nightly 5
marches in Louisville; and 6
WHEREAS, on August 26, 1968, A.D. King's side office at Zion Baptist Church in 7
Louisville, Kentucky, was bombed; and 8
WHEREAS, like his brother, A.D. King was a staunch believer in the importance of 9
maintaining nonviolence in direct action campaigns. Howeve r, unlike his brother, A.D. 10
was able to remain mostly outside of the media spotlight. As one of his associates said, 11
"Not being in the limelight never seemed to affect him but because he stayed in the 12
background, many people never knew that he was deeply involved, too"; and 13
WHEREAS, after the assassination of his brother Martin Luther King, Jr., in April 14
1968, there was speculation that A.D. might become president of the Southern Christian 15
Leadership Conference (SCLC). A.D., however, made no effort to assu me his brother’s 16
role, although he did continue to be active in the Poor People’s Campaign and in other 17
work on behalf of SCLC. Following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., A.D. King 18
returned to Ebenezer Baptist Church and, in September 1968, was instal led as co-pastor; 19
and 20
WHEREAS, praised by his father as "an able preacher, a concerned, loving pastor," 21
A.D. King’s life was tragically cut short when he drowned on July 21, 1969, at the age of 22
38. As he was a strong swimmer, the family had suspicion aroun d his untimely drowning 23
though no other cause of death was investigated; and 24
WHEREAS, A.D. King gave inspiration to many through his high ideals, morals, 25
and deep concern for his fellow citizens, and the devotion, patience, and understanding he 26
demonstrated to his family and friends were admired by others; and 27
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WHEREAS, A.D. King was a person of magnanimous strengths with an 1
unimpeachable reputation for integrity, intelligence, fairness, and kindness, and by the 2
example he made of his life, he made this world a better place in which to live; and 3
WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Reverend Alfred Daniel "A.D." 4
King continues to be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him; 5
NOW, THEREFORE, 6
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembl y of the Commonwealth of 7
Kentucky: 8
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby honor the life and legacy of 9
Reverend Alfred Daniel "A.D." King. 10
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and memory 11
of Reverend Alfred Daniel "A.D." King. 12
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 13
Resolution to Senator Lindsey Tichenor for presentation. 14