Cresswell Elmore
In August 1947, George Elmore attempted to vote in the all-white primary election in Columbia, South Carolina. He and other members of the Progressive Democratic Party were challenging segregation in South Carolina elections. After George was denied, Harold Boulware, chief counsel for the NAACP in South Carolina, filed a class-action lawsuit that opened the primary to all South Carolinians. George's son, Cresswell, recalls the story of his father becoming the plaintiff in Elmore v. Rice, the landmark civil rights case.
Cresswell Elmore
Early Life and Career
Cresswell Elmore was the second of four children—and the only son—born to George and Laura Elmore. The family resided on Tree Street in Columbia, South Carolina.
Cresswell built a distinguished career in aviation, beginning in the private sector before transitioning to the Department of Defense. Now retired, he resides in Durham, North Carolina. A widower, he is a proud father of three children.
George and Laura Elmore
George Elmore was a self-made entrepreneur whose background remains somewhat unclear to his family. With fair skin and a likely Jewish father, George did not complete high school but built a successful career through determination and business acumen. By 1947, he owned multiple enterprises, including a five-and-dime store, a liquor store, and a photography and portrait business. He also managed rental properties and worked as a taxicab driver, showcasing his industrious spirit.
Laura Elmore was a devoted homemaker, remembered for her warmth and kindness. According to family accounts, she created a loving home environment and was known for her gentle nature rather than strict discipline.
Elmore v. Rice: A Landmark Case for Equality
In 1947, George Elmore partnered with NAACP counsel Harold Boulware and other NAACP officials to challenge the all-white Democratic primary. The case, Elmore v. Rice, reached the Supreme Court, which declined to hear it, allowing the lower court’s ruling in favor of Elmore to stand. This decision marked a significant victory in the fight for voting rights.
Backlash and Resilience
Throughout their lawsuit and in the years that followed, the Elmores faced relentless threats from the Ku Klux Klan. George Elmore’s businesses, including his five-and-dime store and liquor store, were targeted and forced to close. His real estate holdings were seized, leaving him with no stable income aside from driving a taxicab.
The immense stress and backlash took a devastating toll on the family. Laura Elmore suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized, later moving to a long-term care facility where she spent most of her adult life.
After Laura’s institutionalization, the family relocated to Washington, D.C., to live with George’s sister. However, they stayed only a year before returning to Columbia. Upon his return, George was able to find work but never regained the financial stability he once had. “He lived a pauper’s life,” Cresswell recalled, and George passed away in 1959.
When asked if his parents ever received justice for their sacrifices, Cresswell Elmore replied that their only justice was being among the first African Americans to vote in the South Carolina primary—a moment captured in the photo below.