Lucius Amerson
Lucius Davenport Amerson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sheriff of Macon County, Alabama | |
| In office 1967–1987 | |
Lucius Davenport Amerson (October 7, 1933 – March 15, 1994)[1] was an American sheriff who in 1967 became the first black sheriff in the South since Reconstruction. He was elected to office in Macon County, Alabama and started his role in January 1967.[2][3][4] Amerson served for 20 years, until 1987, being re-elected four times.[5]
He said that all his deputies quit when he took office, "They wouldn't work with me". "The people in the public didn't see the experiences I had with the circuit judges, clerks, and prosecutors, who were supposed to help me with my job, They were trying to show that a black sheriff couldn't be effective"
March 15th 1994 local leaders paid honor to the trials that Amerson endured.
He had a heart attack in 1991 and was trying to start a restaurant "Captain Catfish" in Tuskegee when he died.[6]
Survived by former wife and 3 sons Lucius Amerson Jr. Peter Amerson, Anthony Amerson
Amerson was born in Clinton, Alabama in 1933,[7] the son of Henry Amerson, a farmer, and Lewinie Amerson.[8]
References
- ^ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- ^ Ruane, Michael E. (August 14, 2008). "Sheriff Made History Simply by Doing His Job". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ Life Magazine. January 27, 1967. Volume 62. No. 4. Page 30B
- ^ "Alabama's First Black Sheriff Elected - Hd - Stock Footage". www.efootage.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ^ "Lucius Amerson". National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Sanford, Sanford (1994-03-17). "First black sheriff Lucius Amerson dies". The Tuskegee News. pp. 1, 2. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
- ^ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- ^ 1930, 1940 United States Federal Census