Joe Neal (politician)
Joseph M. Neal Jr. (July 28, 1935 – December 31, 2020) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Nevada Senate from 1973 to 2004, making him the first African-American state senator in Nevada. He served as Minority Floor leader in 1989 and as President pro tempore in 1991.
Joe Neal | |
|---|---|
| President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate | |
| In office 1991–1991 | |
| Member of the Nevada Senate from the 4th district | |
| In office 1973–2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 28, 1935 Mound, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2020 (aged 85) Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Estelle DeConge |
| Education | Southern University (BA) |
Early life
Born in Mound, Louisiana, he served in the United States Air Force. Neal moved to Nevada in 1964 and earned a degree in political science and history from Southern University.[1]
Political career
Neal was inducted into the Nevada Senate Hall of Fame in 2005, a year into his retirement. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-serving state senator in the history of the state. In 2002, Neal ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Nevada.[2][3]
Personal life and death
Neal married Estelle Ann DeConge in 1965 and together, they had 5 children: Charisse, Tania, Withania, Dina Amelia, and Joseph.[4] Estelle died of breast cancer in 1997. Dina Neal served as a member of the Nevada Assembly from 2010 to 2020, when she took her father's former seat in the Nevada Senate.[5]
Neal died on December 31, 2020, after a long illness. He was 85 years old.[6]
References
- http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/LegInfo/OHP/transcripts/Neal.pdf
- "Biography of Senator Neal". Archived from the original on 2014-10-20. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
- "Joseph (Joe) M. Neal Jr".
- Legislative Biography -- 71st (2001) Session
- "Las Vegas News | Breaking News & Headlines". 25 May 2023.
- Joe Neal, Nevada’s first Black state senator dies