Atty. John R. Broadnax

Atty. John R. Broadnax

Whitefish Bay - Attorney John R. Broadnax of Whitefish Bay, WI, entered into eternal life on May 2, 2020, at 96 years of age. Beloved son of the late Edward Broadnax and the late Mary Raiford. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 72 years, Martha (Belle) Broadnax; his daughter Vicki Broadnax and his eldest son, John R. Broadnax. Attorney Broadnax is survived by three children; Keith Broadnax, Charles (Carol) Broadnax and Dwain (Terri) Broadnax; 14 grandchildren; Jonah, Noah, Isaac, Grace, John Robert, Levi, Samuel, Nicholas, Emma, Thomas, Andrew, Martha, Kira and Aaron; one great grandchild Charlotte and loving family members, Molly Zillig of Whitefish Bay, WI and Maggie Mueller of Madison, WI. He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and dear friends.

Attorney Broadnax is also survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Young of Jacksonville, FL, Dorothy Dyches of Greenville, SC, and; one brother, William O. Broadnax of Milwaukee, WI.

Attorney Broadnax was born on May 13, 1923 in Ridge Spring, SC. As a youth coming of age in the South, he experienced firsthand the inequities of segregation and racism; having to pay a poll-tax and the effects of Jim Crow.

He completed his undergraduate work at Benedict College, SC where he met and married his college sweetheart, the late Martha Belle (Punch) Broadnax in 1947. Together they celebrated 72 anniversaries and had five children.

Attorney Broadnax served his country, in both the United States Army and Air Force during World War II. After his discharge from military service, he taught mathematics and science, and was an assistant high school principal. He was one of the first African American teachers in the State of South Carolina to achieve an "A" score on the National Teachers Examination.

Attorney Broadnax completed graduate work at Howard University and Indiana University and is a 1952 graduated of the University of Wisconsin Law School. He was also a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Early in his career, Attorney Broadnax fought against de facto racism and bigotry in the hope of a more inclusive society and a better quality of life for all Milwaukeeans. In the late 1950's, the civil rights movement was having an impact in Milwaukee, and Attorney Broadnax changed the focus of his law practice from general and criminal cases to more civil cases dealing with open housing and fair employment issues.

Attorney Broadnax served as the president of the Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP in 1965, when the office was fire-bombed. It was during this time that he and his law partner, the late Attorney Roy Wilson, were involved in settling Milwaukee's landmark school desegregation case in the late 1970's and early '80s. Attorney Broadnax received The Black Excellence Award as a Social Justice Icon in February 2012 for his work and efforts in the Civil Rights movement.

Attorney Broadnax was a member of the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. He was admitted to practice law before the Eastern and Western Federal District Courts of Wisconsin. He was a panel member of the American Arbitration Association from 1984 to 1994. He was a Court Commissioner for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court from 1978 to 1984. From 1982 to 1987, he was a trial attorney for the Milwaukee County Transit Authority and Milwaukee County. In his role, he was one of two lead minority attorneys responsible for trial litigation. In May of 2002, the State Bar of Wisconsin, recognized him for his outstanding contribution to the legal profession and to the public for having practiced law for over 50 years.

Attorney Broadnax was a lifetime member of the NAACP and the former president of the NAACP's Milwaukee Branch. He was a member of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, a former trustee, Chairman of the Deacon Board and the Church Superintendent for over 50 years.

Attorney Broadnax was a member of the law firm he co-founded in 1956. With the addition of Attorney Clifton G. Owens, a colleague and a friend, the firm became Wilson, Broadnax & Owens, the oldest minority- owned law firm in the State of Wisconsin.

Private services will be held. A family Ceremony to celebrate Attorney Broadnax's life will be held at a future date at the church he attended for over 50 years, Metropolitan Missionary Church, located at 1345 W. Burleigh, Milwaukee, WI.