ELZIE ODOM
5/6/1997-5/3/2003

Elzie Delano Odom was born in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas on May 10, 1929. His formal education was received in the schools of Newton County and Prairie View A&M University. He married the former Ruby Truvillion on June 7, 1947.

Elzie and Ruby moved to Orange, Texas in 1949 where he became a letter carrier in the U.S. Postal Service in 1950. During the next 17 years, they became "Pillars of the Orange Texas Community." He served as president of the PTA in every school his children attended, superintendent of Sunday School and was ordained as a Deacon at Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1961. In 1964 he lost a hard-fought campaign for a seat on the Orange School Board. However, he was successful in 1965, and became the first black person to be elected to any elective office in Orange County. He served until the consolidation of the districts in 1967.

On June 2, 1967, Elzie D. Odom was appointed to the position of U.S. Postal Inspector, becoming the fifth black in the nation to receive such an appointment. He was assigned to Los Angeles, California for three years, San Antonio, Texas for nine years, and spent the last eight years of his distinguished postal career in Dallas/Fort Worth with retirement coming June 2, 1987. The Odoms have resided at their present address in Arlington since April 1979.

The Odoms quickly became involved in church and civic activities in Arlington. They are both active in the Mount Olive Baptist Church where Elzie is a deacon and church treasurer.  He managed the construction of a recently completed 3 million dollar building. Ruby is a member of the Board of First Call for Help and Arlington Charities. Both are frequent volunteers at Arlington Charities and Arlington Night Shelter.

Elzie's community involvement has included:

• Member, Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission
   
• Member, Arlington Capital Improvement Advisory Committee
   
• Member, Arlington Airport Zoning Commission
   
• Member, Arlington Fire/Police Foundation, Inc.
   
• Member, Support Group for the Tarrant County Crime Control and Prevention District
   
• Member, Business Highways 287 Improvement Committee (Joint Arlington, Mansfield and Kennedale)
   
• Life Member, N.A.A.C.P.
   
• Second Vice President, Arlington United Black Coalition
   
• Mentor, Nichols Junior High School Mentor Program

Mr. and Mrs. Odom are the parents of two children and have six grandchildren.