In 1974, Ovide Duncantell Jr. founded and became the Executive Director of the Black Heritage Society Inc., emerging as one of the driving forces behind the renaming of a major thoroughfare to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The street ran through a predominantly African American neighborhood. Duncan's zeal, persistence, and enthusiasm led to the community's mobilization in favor of Renaming South Park Boulevard to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.
The Reverend Martin Luther King Sr., affectionately known as "Daddy King," was deeply moved by the Black Heritage Society's passionate tribute to his late son. In recognition of this, he attended the street name change ceremony and served as the first Grand Marshal of the MLK Parade organized by the society on January 21, 1978. This event marked both the inaugural MLK Parade and the first street naming commissioned by a member of the King family to carrier on his son's legacy. A City-Wide Parade christened the street down the newly named boulevard. Making a pact and promise to Dr. King's father, "Daddy King, the first Grand Marshal. Duncantell Jr. and the BHS have since conducted the annual Original MLK Parade.
In 1983, an Oak Tree was planted to stand in place of the MLK statue. Rev. Derek King attended the dedication of the tree. The Oak Tree was planted in honor of Martin Luther King Jr on the esplanade near the intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd and Old Spanish Trail. The tree stood proudly for over 30 years until Houston's Metro threatened to destroy it because it was in the way of a Metro light rail expansion project. On May 1, 2012, at the age of 75, Duncantell Jr. chained himself to the MLK Tree of Life to stand in the way of the construction of Metro's new Southeast light rail line. He stayed tied to the tree for over 12 hours and did not eat anything, but drank water and juice. Metro eventually agreed not to destroy the tree under conditions to help build an MLK Memorial Plaza in MacGregor Park.
On May 24, 2014 at 9 am the unveiling of a new statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King III, and nephew Derek King, King family members present for the event. Attorney Ben Hall, 2013 Mayoral Candidate, and his wife, Mrs. Saundra Hall, donate $64,000.The Black Heritage Society Inc. donated the statue, worth an estimated $120,000, to Houston's public art collection. Metro's contribution is around $750,000. Our history, Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, Houston parade-- MLK Parade Foundation 501c3