User:BavariaPR/sandbox

Founded by Green Conley and wife Harriet, the Conleys are one of the oldest and best-known African-American families in the Tennessee Valley region of the United States, a seven state region including parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The Family is notable for its enduring 200 year history, the continuity of its familial connections, and the variety of their contributions to American culture. The unique and memorable personalities and photogenic quality of the family members, as well as their extensive and continuing involvement in public service, civic affairs, arts, culture and athletics has elevated some members to national and international notoriety. Family members have included religious leaders, scholars, athletes, entertainers, scientists, military figures and entrepreneurs.

Many direct descendants of Green and Harriet Conley do not bear the surname Conley. Branches of the family are found throughout the United States. Other surnames found throughout the Family are: Darwin, Elder, Garner, Moore, Ramsey, Thornton, Townsend, Patrick and Walker.

Descendants of the Conleys include: Buffalo Soldier Officer Paschal Conley; former head of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, Dr. Binford Conley; Political Commentator Larry Elder; Olympic Gold Medal Winner Michael Conley Sr.; Country Music entertainer Earl Thomas Conley; and medical scientist Lockard Conley. Contemporary descendants include Basketball coach and former player, Maurice Cheeks, and NBA standout Mike Conley Jr..

Origins
Green Conley was born in the early 1800s as one of three sons resulting from the union of an Irish slaveholder and one of his Black African servants. Green Conley was married to Harriet Conley, born in Alabama, also the result of an Irish and African union in the era of slaveholding. The family is listed in the 1870 US Census as being of mixed ethnic heritage. The marriage between Green and Harriet produced eight children (six sons and two daughters): Sarah (1840); Alexander (1845); Milton (1849); Katie (1850); James (1852); William, also known as Bill (1855); Jonas (1857); and Willie (1868). As newly freed people of color, Green and Harriet led humble lives. Several of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gained regional prominence as successful professionals in a number of fields.

Alabama and the Tennessee Valley
The original Conley Brothers owned land in Huntsville, Alabama in Madison County, Alabama, which was settled about 1805, and became the first incorporated town in Alabama in 1811. Although Green and Harriet always occupied a modest home near the edge of Huntsville, members of their family would later collaborate, and amass considerable land in the greater Huntsville area, known as Conley Mountain. In the backlash against Radical Reconstruction the mountain was renamed Mt. Lebanon. A variety of streets, neighborhoods carry the names of the Conley sons and daughters married names, for examples being Conley Drive, Gurley Public Library, Old Gurley Road, Darwin Road and the Darwin Downs neighborhood. Shortly before the deaths of Green and Harriet around 1900, their children and grandchildren of played critical roles in the establishment of dozens of churches and colleges throughout the Tennessee Valley Region, including Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Phillips Church and Conley Chapel.

Law, Military, Government & Civic
Branches of the family have long been associated with military service. Paschal Conley, the Sargent of the Buffalo Soldiers 10th Cavalry, served from 1879 until 1906 and fought in the Spanish-American War. He was posthumously recognized and promoted by U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama in 2012.

Arts & Humanities
Other Branches of the Family pursued performing arts.

Education & Academia
Various branches of the Family attended dozens of the 113 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) still in existence in the early 1980s. In some cases, family members were among the first students of these colleges. Several family members also help create primary and secondary schools at the turn of the 20th century.

Since then, the Family's involvement with the school has spanned its entire history, and a Conley Family member has been enrolled for each year of the school's existence.

Oakwood University
Family members were in the first class of high school graduates at Oakwood University in 1909, and helped establish the school as a four-year college. Oakwood now considered the capital of the Seventh Day Adventist faith in the Black community.

Sports & Athletics
The athletic accomplishments of the Conley Family place it in the top-tier of American families in the world of sports. Family members excelled in the earliest days of collegiate athletics as schools such as Fisk, Tennessee State, University of Kentucky and Atlanta University. In the modern era, athletes include: Sabrina Conley, female discus thrower; Steve Conley, former NFL football player or the both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts; Jason Conley Basketball player in Europe; Maurice Cheeks NBA Coach and former player.