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→Background
Pendleton was born in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish, to Joseph Anthony Pendleton, Sr., and the former Velda Leola Long. He was educated in the [[Segregation|segregated]] public schools in Monroe. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the predominantly black Dillard University in [[New Orleans]]. Thereafter, he entered the school of dentistry at Meharry Medical College in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], which most black dentists in the American South then attended. He received the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.<ref>Pendleton obituary, ''The Shreveport Times,'' January 18, 2019.}}</ref>
Pendleton was born in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] in Ouachita Parish, to Joseph Anthony Pendleton, Sr., and the former Velda Leola Long. He was educated in the [[Segregation|segregated]] public schools in Monroe. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the predominantly black Dillard University in [[New Orleans]]. Thereafter, he entered the school of dentistry at Meharry Medical College in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]], which most black dentists in the American South then attended. He received the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.<ref>Pendleton obituary, ''The Shreveport Times,'' January 18, 2019.}}</ref>
In November 1956, Pendleton entered the [[U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of captain. He served for six years. He resigned his commission as a dental officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He and his wife, the former Barbara Chocolate (also born 1931), a Shreveport native, then took over the former dental practice of the civil rights activist, Cuthbert Ormond "C. O." Simpkins, Sr.] who left Shreveport when his life was threatened. Pendleton maintained the dental practice for forty-seven years. The Pendletons were married for fifty-two years and had two children, both doctors. Dr. Simpkins returned to Shreveport in 1988 and ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] in 1990. He was defeated in the [[general election]] by the white [[Republican Party|Republican]] Hazel Fain Beard, a city council member and businesswoman from southwestern Shreveport. Thereafter, Simpkins served a term from 1992 to 1996 in the Louisiana House of Representatives.
In November 1956, Pendleton entered the [[U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of captain. He served for six years. He resigned his commission as a dental officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He and his wife, the former Barbara Chocolate (also born 1931), a Shreveport native, then took over the former dental practice of the civil rights activist, Cuthbert Ormond "C. O." Simpkins, Sr., who left Shreveport when his life was threatened. Pendleton maintained the dental practice for forty-seven years. The Pendletons were married for fifty-two years and had two children, both doctors. Dr. Simpkins returned to Shreveport in 1988 and ran unsuccessfully for [[mayor]] in 1990. He was defeated in the [[general election]] by the white [[Republican Party|Republican]] Hazel Fain Beard, a city council member and businesswoman from southwestern Shreveport. Thereafter, Simpkins served a term from 1992 to 1996 in the Louisiana House of Representatives.
==Civil rights activism==
==Civil rights activism==
In the early 1970s, Pendleton and other black leaders in Shreveport filed suits to establish single-member districts on the [[Caddo Parish School Board]] and the Caddo Parish Police Jury (the parish governing body, renamed the Caddo Parish Commission in 1984). As a result, blacks soon gained representation on both public bodies.
In the early 1970s, Pendleton and other black leaders in Shreveport filed suits to establish single-member districts on the Caddo Parish School Board and the Caddo Parish Police Jury (the parish governing body, renamed the Caddo Parish Commission in 1984). As a result, blacks soon gained representation on both public bodies.
Pendleton and the late Shreveport [[attorney]] Hilary Huckaby, III, formed BULL, which sued in federal court to abolish the former city commission form of municipal government. Under the five-member commission system, the council members were elected at-large. At the time, Shreveport was majority white—it became majority black in the 2000 [[census]] -- and no blacks won any of the commission positions. When an executive mayor and legislative council system was adopted in 1978, blacks began to win seats on the seven-member single-member-district council and later dominated the mayor's office as well.
Pendleton and the late Shreveport [[attorney]] Hilary Huckaby, III, formed BULL, which sued in federal court to abolish the former city commission form of municipal government. Under the five-member commission system, the council members were elected at-large. At the time, Shreveport was majority white—it became majority black in the 2000 [[census]] -- and no blacks won any of the commission positions. When an executive mayor and legislative council system was adopted in 1978, blacks began to win seats on the seven-member single-member-district council and later dominated the mayor's office as well.