Selma has had its share of history, but perhaps more importantly Selma has had its share of heroes.

The Courageous Eight is a great example of our local heroes who have made an impact not just on the South but our nation.

The Courageous Eight left us a legacy, a high mark that will forever be sought by others.

The late J.D. Hunter was a member of the Courageous Eight and played a key role in the civil rights movement.

Alongside him, was his wife Lucille, who provided him support and love as he fought for the freedoms at stake during the time of the movement.

Hunter was the head of the local NAACP. As such, he filed a petition to integrate the schools with the school board before the historic Brown vs. Board of Education came about.

In addition, Hunter was part of a steering committee for the Dallas County Voter’s League, which later became the Courageous Eight, a group of leaders who ignored a meetings ban and continued to plan as a group despite fierce oppression.

Because of their fight for equality the Hunter family lived with the fear of either losing their home, their jobs or their lives.

Yet the family faced those trials and persevered because of their passion for the dream of equality.

The family was determined not to let anything hinder them from helping the cause and thankfully they succeeded.

In the annals of history, it is often the men who have been out front, receiving the praise and recognition.

But it is important that we recognize couples like the Hunters collectively because surely without one, the other would not have been able to achieve so much.

It was Lucille’s belief in her husband and what he was fighting for that made many of his accomplishments possible. Her passion inspired her husband and their five children. While history will fondly remember the contributions of people like each of the Courageous Eight, it is important to recognize the others in their lives that made success possible.

Because of people like J.D. and Lucille Hunter, Selma has its heroes and its history.

The heroes we have in Selma should be honored and praised for their work, sweat and tears that they devoted in fighting for the cause of equal and civil rights.

We thank those heroes who made our history something of which to be proud.

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