AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly 10 years after Dr. Sidney White Jr. and his wife, Helen White, both died, their home now has the honor of receiving a historic marker, which was unveiled Tuesday.
Dr. White, one of the few Black dentists of his time, died in 2002, according to his wife’s godson, Lamont Alexander. Helen would go on to be laid to rest 13 years later.
The “power couple”
The couple made significant strides for racial equality and a wider impact on the community in Austin.
Sidney, from Tyler, Texas originally, came to Austin in 1958 and was one of the first black dentists in Austin according to the Austin History Center. He and would unexpectedly settle down here, after marrying Helen two years later. Friends from his hometown, and a prominent couple in Austin would convince the two to stay.
Sidney a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity would go on to co-develop a medical plaza complex, where black doctors worked. He would also help co-establish the St. James Episcopal Church, and opened popular social lounge Phases…