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Wednesday is expected to be one of the most significant moments in the history of the Dallas County Commissioners Court: evidence will be presented and a resolution is expected to pass declaring that a man arrested for murder by Dallas Police and later executed in the Texas death chamber was, in fact, innocent of the crime. 

What happened to Tommy Lee Walker in 1956 may seem like a long time ago, but it has never been forgotten by many in Dallas’ Black community.  

Looking into his eyes in a film from inside a Dallas courtroom, you can only imagine what was going through the mind of Walker. 

His unbroken stare into the camera appears to look for reason and fairness that too often didn’t exist in 1956. 

The 1956 arrest and execution of Tommy Lee Walker  

“The said warden is hereby directed and commanded to pass and cause to be passed through the body of you Tommy Lee Walker, a current of electricity of sufficient intensity to cause the death of you, Tommy Lee Walker,” a judge is heard saying in the film.

A judge sentenced the 21-year-old to death in the electric chair for a murder that overwhelming evidence shows he didn’t commit. 

“It’s not difficult to fathom what happened; they grabbed the first ‘Negro’ they saw,” said Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price.

Price said that period in the city’s history was scarred by racial injustice. 

How hysteria led to a wrongful conviction  

It was in Northwest Dallas near Love Field in 1953 when a 31-year-old woman was brutally murdered at night while walking to a bus stop. 

There were no witnesses, no evidence left behind, just racial hysteria and unfounded claims that it was committed by a Black man. 

“The Klan was basically rampant here,” said Price.

Walker lived across town from the murder scene near a park close to Baylor Hospital. 

9 witnesses confirm Walker’s innocence  

He was among countless young Black men rounded up for questioning, with some in the white community demanding justice even at the cost of arresting the wrong man. 

“That’s kind of what happened here, I guess,” Price said. “From all the evidence that has come to light, that is exactly what happened, and I guess. And you know what, the real travesty of this? Mr. Walker had an alibi.”

Nine people confirmed Walker’s alibi that on the night of the murder, he was with his pregnant girlfriend, who gave birth to their son the next day. 

Still, he was arrested 4 months after the crime. 

Walker said that after hours of threats and promises, he was coerced into giving a false confession that he immediately tried to recant. 

He professed his innocence to the judge after he was convicted and sentenced to death by an all-white jury. 

“I feel that I have been tricked out of my life,” Walker said. There’s a lot of other people who have been convicted for crimes they committed and was turned loose. I haven’t did anything, and I’m not being turned loose.”

Walker’s funeral was attended by 5,000 people, and it’s taken 70 years for Dallas to face what, in all likelihood, was a terrible injustice. 

“The last thing he said before he was executed was, ‘I’m innocent,’” said Price.

Dallas County commissioners to consider symbolic exoneration  

On Wednesday, Price said the Dallas County Commissioners’ Court will have evidence of the case presented during a special meeting and then decide whether to pass a symbolic resolution exonerating a man who paid the ultimate price for being wrongfully accused of murder. 

“We think it’s appropriate; we may be the first court in the country to do this. Of course, the community wants this. You can’t move on until you heal that sore that you know is out there,” Price said.

Price said Walker’s now 72-year-old son will be there to hopefully see with his own eyes the justice his father’s eyes seemed to desperately search for but could not find on that day in 1956. 

Maybe the new year has you craving a change and reupholstery is on your to-do list. If so, may we suggest a refresher for yourself before starting on the furniture? Reupholstery can be a great idea, but it’s not an idea to pursue without preparation.

We asked Alejandro Gonzalez of Oak Cliff’s Tlazo Home to walk us through a primer for a successful reupholstery experience. Gonzalez has years of experience as a designer and sells new home furnishings with an emphasis on Latino artists and designers, plus a handpicked collection of refurbished vintage pieces.

Gonzalez says reupholstery isn’t a quick or inexpensive option. “But it’s a worthwhile project, because at the end you have this piece of furniture that looks like new and you have given it a new life,” he says.

Grab a notebook: Class begins now.

Lesson one: intro to reupholstery

When should you consider reupholstery instead of buying new?

The first deciding factor is often sentimental value. A piece you love, something with a history that’s been handed down in the family, may be a perfect candidate for a fabric update.

Beyond that, the primary consideration is the underlying construction of the piece. “If it’s of good quality, then it is worth reupholstering,” Gonzalez says.

Not sure about the quality? Gonzalez suggests checking the price of a replacement piece at the store where the furniture was purchased. If it would cost less to buy new than to re-cover, the piece may not be a great candidate for reupholstery.

Dining chairs or other pieces with exposed wood frames or carved wood elements get special consideration. Gonzalez says they’re more frequently worth updating because of the materials and craftsmanship involved.

“Just throwing it away seems like such a waste,” he says.

Lesson two: fabric shopping

Before you head into the visual stimulation of a fabric store, have an idea what you’re looking for: Solid or patterned? Floral or graphic? Contemporary or vintage? Bold or understated?

Start by looking at the existing fabric and considering what you’d like to change and why. Gonzalez says to ask yourself: “What is it that I’m not liking?” Is the current fabric worn out but still a color or pattern you love? Or are you planning to switch up the whole vibe of a room and looking for a fabric to lead the way?

If you’re working with a designer, he or she will have access to high-end fabrics available in the Dallas Design District. But there are options for shopping on your own, too.

Gonzalez recommends Childress Fabrics and Uptown Fabrics, or the shops in the “mini fabric district” off Harry Hines Boulevard, particularly Wherehouse Fabrics and Best Fabrics.

Walk right past the quilting cottons and garment-weight material. Upholstery fabric can’t be too thin or too stretchy.

Fabrics are rated using a double-rub test in which a fabric sample is run through a machine and rubbed until it shows signs of wear. Gonzalez suggests choosing fabric with at least a 30,000 double-rub count for residential upholstery. (If you don’t see this information on the label, ask.)

When you think you’ve found the perfect fabric, buy just a cutting to take home and drape over your furniture. Live with it for a week or so, watching how it looks as the light shifts. If you’re still happy with it, you’re ready to find your upholsterer.

Lesson three: the expert

You shouldn’t have a problem tracking down a skilled upholsterer in D-FW. “This is an amazing design hub,” Gonzalez says. He recommends looking first for a shop in your own neighborhood. Fabric stores also may have in-house services or recommended shops.

Having trouble? Check out one of his two favorites: Hernandez Upholstery on Reading Street or RL Home Designs & Upholstery in Oak Cliff.

If you have a fabric cutting, take it to the shop along with photos of your piece to start the conversation. Be sure to check how the furniture will get to and from the shop — will they arrange transport or do you?

You can bring rough measurements, but the upholsterer will handle formal measurements and decide how much fabric the job will require. Don’t buy anything but a sample before choosing and consulting with an upholsterer.

The yardage needed will be determined by measurements, the size of any pattern in the fabric and an overage allowance.

Lesson four: final decisions

Be ready for more decisions once you’ve chosen a shop to do the work. For example, if your fabric has a pattern, you need to choose what direction you want it to run.

You’ll also have to choose a filling. Ultra-soft 100% down is comfy, but it’s also higher maintenance. After “you sit on it, you’re always going to have to fluff,” Gonzalez says.

He often chooses a 50/50 combination of dacron batting and down. If your piece is boxier by design or you prefer cleaner lines, you may want an even higher percentage of dacron. The choice will impact both the feel and look of your furniture. “A lot of upholstery demands clean, strong lines,” Gonzalez says.

If your piece has wood elements, your upholsterer will likely either have a restorer on their team or recommend someone to handle that part of the work.

Finally, be ready to decide on finishing touches. From nail heads and piping to tape and blind stitching, you choose how seams and edges will be either decorated or hidden.

This is where you can really lean into the joy of creating a custom piece of furniture. But it’s also where you need to speak up. “They can’t read your mind,” Gonzalez says. “You have to give as many details as possible.”

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