Graves, Curtis, 1938-

Curtis Graves (1938- ) was one of the first two African Americans to serve in the Texas State Legislature since Reconstruction. Graves was elected to successive terms in the state legislature (1966-72). In 1969, Graves was a candidate in the mayoral race against incumbent Mayor Louie Welch. In 1972, Graves relocated from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. There he became director of Continuing Education with the National Civil Service League. Graves served as Chief of the Education and Communications Affairs Board of NASA and Deputy Director of Civil Affairs for the Leadership Institute for Communications Development, 1977-1987. Graves was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton University, 1984-85. He became President of the World Aerospace Education Organization in 1983. In addition Graves published a two-volume book entitled Famous Black Americans.