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One of eight children of Melvin, Sr., and Laura Jenkins Irvin, he graduated from the historically black Lowery High School, subsequently merged into Donaldsonville High School in Donaldsonville in west Ascension Parish, and Southern University in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], from which he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees. He was a [[mathematics]] teacher and later a supervisor of math and reading for the state Department of Education. Prior to his legislative years, Irvin was an elected member from 1972 to 1983 of the Ascension Parish School Board and from 1976 to 1978 was the first African American president of the board.<ref name=bio/><ref name=obit>Melvin Irvin, Jr., obituary, ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' June 10, 2014.}}</ref>

One of eight children of Melvin, Sr., and Laura Jenkins Irvin, he graduated from the historically black Lowery High School, subsequently merged into Donaldsonville High School in Donaldsonville in west Ascension Parish, and Southern University in the capital city of [[Baton Rouge]], from which he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees. He was a [[mathematics]] teacher and later a supervisor of math and reading for the state Department of Education. Prior to his legislative years, Irvin was an elected member from 1972 to 1983 of the Ascension Parish School Board and from 1976 to 1978 was the first African American president of the board.<ref name=bio/><ref name=obit>Melvin Irvin, Jr., obituary, ''The Baton Rouge Advocate,'' June 10, 2014.}}</ref>

Irvin was first elected to the House by 65 votes in a runoff election held on November 19, 1983, with his fellow Democrat, Camille J. Russo, Jr., 5,717 votes (50.3 percent) to 5,652 (49.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref> He won his second term in the runoff contest held on November 21, 1987, when he again defeated Russo, 8,191 (52.5 percent) to 7,421 (47.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987. Irvin could not seek a third term in 1991, because of his conviction for  [[bribery]] of two public housing officials in Baton Rouge. He was sentenced to serve six years in federal prison.<ref name=bio/>

Irvin was first elected to the House by 65 votes in a runoff election held on November 19, 1983, with his fellow Democrat, Camille J. Russo, Jr., 5,717 votes (50.3 percent) to 5,652 (49.7 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 19, 1983.</ref> He won his second term in the runoff contest held on November 21, 1987, when he again defeated Russo, 8,191 (52.5 percent) to 7,421 (47.5 percent).<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 21, 1987.</ref Irvin could not seek a third term in 1991, because of his conviction for  [[bribery]] of two public housing officials in Baton Rouge. He was sentenced to serve six years in federal prison.<ref name=bio/>

During his career, Irvin also worked as an operator at Vulcan Chemical Company and was a director of the [Mercedes-Benz Superdome in [[New Orleans]]. He established the River Road [[National Urban League|Urban League]], the first branch of that organization in Ascension Parish. He was the president of the River Area Improvement League.<ref name=bio/> Irvin was a  member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the Builder Trade Association, Capital Region Building Association, and the Louisiana Home Builder Association.<ref name=obit/>

During his career, Irvin also worked as an operator at Vulcan Chemical Company and was a director of the [Mercedes-Benz Superdome in [[New Orleans]]. He established the River Road [[National Urban League|Urban League]], the first branch of that organization in Ascension Parish. He was the president of the River Area Improvement League.<ref name=bio/> Irvin was a  member of the [[Chamber of Commerce]], the Builder Trade Association, Capital Region Building Association, and the Louisiana Home Builder Association.<ref name=obit/>

Irvin served only a small portion of his sentence and was released from prison on October 13, 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|title=Melvin Irvin  No. 02292-095|publisher=Bureau of Prisons|accessdate=June 29, 2015}}</ref> He died of [[cancer]] in 2014 at the age of seventy-two. His visitation was held at the Hopeful Triumph Baptist Church in Darrow, Louisiana; his services, at Christian Assembly Full Gospel Church in Gonzales.<ref name=obit/> Tanzia Jones, a family friend, described Irvin, accordingly, "He met no strangers. He was affable and comfortable around national figures, state office holders, and everyday citizens, not only in Gonzales but around the world."<ref name=bio/>

Irvin served only a small portion of his sentence and was released from prison on October 13, 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/|title=Melvin Irvin  No. 02292-095|publisher=Bureau of Prisons|accessdate=June 29, 2015}}</ref> He died of [[cancer]] in 2014 at the age of seventy-two. His visitation was held at the Hopeful Triumph Baptist Church in Darrow, Louisiana; his services, at Christian Assembly Full Gospel Church in Gonzales.<ref name=obit/> Tanzia Jones, a family friend, described Irvin, accordingly, "He met no strangers. He was affable and comfortable around national figures, state office holders, and everyday citizens, not only in Gonzales but around the world."<ref name=bio/>

 

==References==

==References==

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