Rev. Bill Lawson remembers MLK Jr. as 'brilliant'

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day honors the late civil rights leader and the legacy he left behind.

It's a day of service for many as people gather in communities and volunteer in his name.

One of the few people in Houston who knew and worked with Dr. King is ABC13 anchor Melanie Lawson's father.

Reverend Bill Lawson headed the local chapter of MLK's Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization that funded and helped operate the civil rights movement.

Rev. Lawson said he remembers Dr. King as brilliant and disciplined, but he also knew another side of him.

"He was a playful kind of man," Rev. Lawson recalled. "He did have a great sense of humor."

King was only 39 when he was assassinated in Memphis.

He still accomplished a lot in his short life though, even being able to find joy while in moments of pain or sorrow, Rev. Lawson said.

Watch Melanie's full interview with her father in the video player above, and check out more videos on Dr. King's life, work and legacy on the ABC13 streaming app on Roku, FireTV, SamsungTV and AppleTV.