Soniat, Llewelyn J., 1926-2014
Dates
- Existence: 1926-2014
Biographical Statement
Llewelyn J. Soniat, civil rights and community activist was born in New Orleans in 1926. A graduate of the Xavier University Preparatory School (1949) with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education and of the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts in political science (1964). Soniat was a Clerk (1949-1974), EEO Counselor (1974) and EEO Representative (1975-1983) with the U.S. Postal Office in New Orleans. He served as a member of the NAACP New Orleans Branch Executive Committee (1958-circa 1994) and advisor for the New Orleans NAACP Youth Council (1961-1989). He also volunteered as a coordinator for many political campaigns including, Ernest “Dutch” Morial’s campaigns for the Louisiana State House of Representatives (1967) and New Orleans Mayor (1977 and 1982); and Marc Morial’s campaigns for United States Congress (1990), the Louisiana State Senate (1991), and New Orleans Mayor (1994).
Soniat married Novyse Elaine Tomkins, a Xavier classmate from Shreveport, Louisiana. The couple had two children Donald (1948-1994) and Cynthia (1958- ).