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Geneva Kirk Brooks
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Geneva Kirk Brooks
Publisher & CEO
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Date Posted: August 13, 2002
Company/Office: Metro Media News, Property Rights Foundation
City, State: Houston, TX
Reason for nomination: Mrs. Brooks led the national charge against homeowner associations that foreclosed on homeowners for late dues and legal fees
Geneva Kirk Brooks, property rights activist, anti-pornography warrior, and successful real estate broker, died at 7.30 pm Central time on August 2, 2002 at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She was 79 years.
Mrs. Brooks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in April and was undergoing treatment at M.D. Anderson when she developed pneumonia and other complications.
She is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Lynn Slivensky, and Shruti Drosche; one son-in-law, Brad Slivensky; and one grandson, Austin James Slivensky. She is survived by two sisters, Edna Louise Driscoe and Karen Kay Kirk; two brothers, James C. Kirk and Jerald Lawson Kirk; as well as several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James Floyd and Edna Pearl Kirk; and one brother, Buddy Floyd Kirk.
Mrs. Brooks will be remembered for her public crusades in Houston for nearly three decades.
She led a vigorous City Hall crusade beginning in the mid 1970s against pornography resulting in laws restricting the sale of what she labeled as "smut" to minors. Her protests led to the eventual closing of X-rated book stores and "nude modeling studios" in the Medical Center area and many other parts of town. She felt that pornography "violated" women, and she was a staunch advocate of women’s rights.
In recent years, Mrs. Brooks led the charge against homeowner associations that foreclosed on homeowners for late dues and legal fees. Her civil lawsuit against a Northwest Harris County association is pending before the Texas Supreme Court. She is asking that a bill passed by the Texas Legislature in 1995 allowing such foreclosures be declared unconstitutional.
She founded the Texas Property Rights Foundation and was a member of numerous civic and political organizations.
Mrs. Brooks was born in the Mt. Calm community, near Waco, on March 23, 1923.
She attended Baylor University, the University of Kansas, and Columbia University receiving a Ph.D. in education. She was a certified school superintendent and was active in home schooling.
Mrs. Brooks built a home-run real estate business into a successful enterprise with major property holdings throughout the state of Texas.
Submitted by: Ed Wendt - Investigative Reporter, Houston, Texas
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