G.J. Sutton Complex (1912-2019)

Garlington Jerome Sutton (G.J. Sutton) was born in 1909 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the eighth of fifteen children. His father was Samuel Johnson Sutton, also affectionately called "Professor Sutton" by his students and colleagues for his deep commitment to education. G.J. Sutton's father created the first Black school in San Antonio in 1898 and became the Principal at San Antonio's second Black school, Douglass Middle School. A few years later, he became the Principal at Phillis Wheatley High School, where he remained until 1945. G.J. Sutton's brother, Percey Sutton, represented The Nation of Islam and Malcolm X. All twelve of the surviving Sutton children went to college as Samuel and Lilian Sutton made education a priority in the family.

After his father's death, the San Antonio Housing Authority named a housing development after Samuel Johnson Sutton called the Sutton Homes. It was renamed Sutton Oaks Apartments in 2011. G.J. Sutton followed in his father's tradition of public service. After being elected the first Black official from Bexar County, he was also elected as board of trustees of the San Antonio Union Junior College District.

The April 4, 1948, San Antonio Light headline "Making Political History, Minorities Combine, Win." emphasized the importance of this achievement. Valmo Bellinger, son of political "kingmaker" Charles Bellinger, gathered the Latin-American community and the African American community in a movement never seen before in San Antonio. Working together to support the Latin-American candidate Gus Garcia, and Black leader G.J. Sutton, Valmo Bellinger and company devised a plan for the Black community to go to the polls for Gus Garcia and for the Latin-American community to go down the line for G.J. Sutton - pulling off a stunning show of community force.

While in office G.J. Sutton supported community lead boards to heard accusations on police brutality. In 1972 Texas legislative redistricting opened up a new district, district 57-E, where G.J. Sutton become the first Black representative from San Antonio. He was chosen as Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. 

G.J. Sutton proposed buying an office building in his district to save on money going to rent and wanted a facility that could better serve underserved citizens. He also helped to revitalize St. Paul Square in San Antonio. Sutton later served as a visiting lecturer at Baylor University. He belonged to many organizations, including the National Funeral Directors Association and The Plaza Club. Mr. Sutton was also a 32nd degree Mason.

Mr. Sutton was commended for his outstanding community service by Mission City Elk's Club and St. Philip's College. He received the honor of "Man of the Year" in 1973 from the Independent Funeral Directors Association. Two years later, the San Antonio Express-News would designate him "Politician of the Year." Today, the Texas Legislature Black Caucus presents the G.J. Sutton award for leadership in each legislative session.

The Portal to Texas History. Accessed October 29th 2020. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth129380/.

San Antonio African American Community Archive. G.J. Sutton, Vamonde. Accessed October 7th 2020. https://www.vamonde.com/posts/g-j-sutton/9273/.

Murphy, Leonard B.. Sutton, Garlington Jerome, Texas State Historical Association. Accessed October 24th 2020. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/sutton-garlington-jerome.

"Negro Wins Jr. College Race." San Antonio Light (San Antonio) April 4th 1948. 76 ed, Front Page sec, 1-1.

, Staff. "Police Review Plan Rejected." San Antonio Light (San Antonio) September 14th 1967. , 23-23.

Krochmal, Max. Blue Texas: the making of a multiracial democratic in the civil rights era. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2016.