MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Earl T. Shinhoster, who was acting executive director of the NAACP in the mid-1990s, died in a car crash Sunday. He was 47.
Shinhoster was a passenger in a car that apparently went out of control after a tire blew, said state trooper, Cpl. Damon Summers. The car went off the interstate, overturned and hit a tree, killing Shinhoster.
The crash happened off I-85 near Milstead, about 25 miles east of Montgomery. State troopers are investigating.
Shinhoster, who lived in DeKalb, Ga., was the director of the NAACP's People's Voter Empowerment project, a national voter registration and education program.
"Earl was one of the NAACP leaders who made this organization work," NAACP president and CEO Kweisi Mfume said. "He was part of the NAACP family for all of his adult life and he will surely be missed."
Shinhoster was with the organization for 30 years and served in several senior positions, including national field secretary. He was the NAACP's acting executive director and CEO from February 1995 to February 1996.
Most recently, he was involved in efforts to raise census participation among blacks.
Shinhoster had worked as a coordinator for voter education in the Georgia Secretary of State's office. He also served as field director for the National Democratic Institute in the west African nation of Ghana.
"Earl was one of those people who made the NAACP the nation's strongest civil rights organization," said John Johnson, the NAACP's program director.
He "was totally committed to the cause of equal rights," Johnson said.
Julian Bond, the NAACP's national chairman, said Shinhoster "literally devoted his life to the NAACP."
"This is not just a tremendous organizational tragedy, but it's a tremendous tragedy for his family," Bond said. "He was a vibrant guy."
Shinhoster is survived by his wife, Ruby, and son, Michael.