Wright, Indiana House Honor Former Representative Hurley C. Goodall

Hurley C. Goodall’s historic career as a public servant for the city of Muncie, Delaware County and the state of Indiana was honored today by Representative Melanie Wright (D-Yorktown) and the Indiana House.

Goodall was a trailblazer for African Americans in Delaware County as well as across the state, leading the way by accomplishing many firsts for African Americans in state government and his local community of Muncie.

He was elected to represent House District 34 in the Indiana House of Representatives in 1978 and served until 1992. Throughout his 14 years in office, Goodall created a united voice for African Americans in the Indiana General Assembly by serving as a founding member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) and a sponsor of legislation to recognize January 20 as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

In 1958, Goodall became one of the first two African Americans to work for the Muncie Fire Department. In 1970, Goodall became the first African American to serve on the Muncie Community Schools Board of Education, where he served on the School Board for eight years until being elected to the House of Representatives in 1978.

“What is so amazing about being able to stand up here and honor this great man is that it exemplifies the ability to be a tremendous leader in his community and a tremendous leader at the state level,” Wright said. “Goodall is certainly an integral part of history in the House of Representatives and I want to personally thank him for leading our state in the fight for equal representation.”

A Muncie native, Goodall was born in 1927 and attended Muncie Central High School. He graduated high school in 1945 and then joined the U.S. Army and served in Japan as a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for two years before returning home to Muncie in 1947. A year later, Goodall married his high school sweetheart, Fredine “Freddie” Wynn. They later had two sons, Hurley Jr. and Fred Goodall.

Goodall was a leader of the civil rights movement in Muncie during the 1950s and 1960s. Throughout his years of public service, Goodall actively served as a board and committee member with various organizations, including: Action, Inc. of Delaware County; Arts Commission; Central States Region National Caucus of Black School Board Members; Muncie Human Rights; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Muncie Chapter; and the Whitely Community Council.

A life-size statue of Goodall has been commissioned by the Delaware County Historical Society and Community Enhancement Projects to honor the many years Goodall has dedicated to serving his Muncie community and Indiana Hoosiers. The statue is being designed by Hoosier artist Bill Wolfe and will be unveiled in Muncie Fireman’s Park on May 23, Goodall’s 92nd birthday.

Goodall, his nephew Councilman Julius J. Anderson, Former State Senator Allie V. Craycraft, President of the Delaware County Historical Society Chris Fluke, son Fred Goodall, and former State Representative Mike White joined Errington and Wright on the House floor.