McLennan County honors African-American pioneers

April 17, 2005
County officials laid the cornerstone for the Kelly-Napier Justice Center in East Waco Saturday. The building is home to the Precinct 7 Justice of the Peace and named after two of Waco's first Black lawmen.

Jessie Kelly was McLennan County's first African-American constable, and Walter Napier was McLennan County's first Black sheriff's deputy.

"We've come by leaps and bounds,” says McLennan County Justice of the Peace Jean Laster. “When I grew up, we didn't have any elected officials. The first mayor, Oscar Dejue, was appointed by the city council, and that was a great day of pride."

County commissioners voted to change the building's name last summer.