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Senator honors Oralee Malone and her decades of civil-rights and labor activism
Summary
During the Feb. 11 session, a senator delivered a detailed Black History Month tribute to Oralee Malone (1918–2012), recounting her activism in Mississippi and St. Louis, union leadership with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, work with the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and later public service in St. Louis-area civic institutions.
During the Feb. 11, 2026, session of the Missouri Senate, a senator identified in the transcript as the "Senator from the first" used a point of personal privilege to honor Oralee Malone, who died Oct. 30, 2012, at age 93.
The senator recounted Malone’s early activism in Mississippi, including participation in boycotts and acts of civil disobedience, and described her service as a nurse’s aide with the American Red Cross during World War II. The tribute noted Malone’s organizing role with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and her leadership in founding the Saint Louis chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. The senator also described Malone’s work with Redevelopment Opportunities for Women (ROW), her service on the Saint Louis Regional Maternal and Child Health Council and, later, as a commissioner for the Metro and Saint Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority.
Sponsor remarks emphasized Malone’s role bridging civil-rights and women’s-rights efforts within organized labor and her long-standing commitment to public service. The senator closed by noting Malone’s contributions to St. Louis and the nation and offering the chamber’s recognition in observance of Black History Month.
The tribute was delivered during the ceremonial portion of the floor session and did not propose legislative action. The chamber acknowledged the remarks and returned to formal business.
