"Mother" of Houston's 1960 sit-in movement passes away

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Holly Adrienne Hogrobrooks, a civil rights pioneer who helped organize Houston first sit-in has passed away, she was 75.

Hogrobrooks efforts in organizing a series of lunch counter demonstrations at supermarkets and drug stores across the city in 1960 helped end segregation in Houston.

Hogrobrooks, was an alumna of Texas Southern University and a journalism professor until her retirement in 2000.

An historical marker stands at the location of the first sit-in at what was then the Weingarten Supermarket at 4110 Almeda Rd.

Final arrangements are being made for Hogrobrooks' service and a memorial is being planned for her in March.