Bill > HR305

This resolution honors the life and legacy of Richard B. Sagers, a pioneering African American truck driver and civil rights advocate who broke racial barriers in the transportation industry. Born in 1933 in Stockridge, Georgia, Sagers served in the United States Army's 11th Airborne Division as part of the first all-Black regiment to integrate Fort Campbell, Kentucky. After earning his commercial driver's license in 1952, he faced widespread racial discrimination in the trucking industry. In 1969, he became the first Black over-the-road driver in the Southern Conference and, in 1972, filed a landmark class-action lawsuit (Sagers v. Yellow Freight System) under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, challenging discriminatory hiring practices. His legal battle, supported by prominent civil rights activists and attorneys, helped dismantle racial inequalities in the trucking industry. The resolution commemorates Sagers' courage, determination, and significant contributions to civil rights on the 32nd anniversary of his passing in 1993, and directs the House Clerk to provide a copy of the resolution to his family as a tribute to his unimpeachable integrity and lasting impact on society.

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70529