County Judge KP George Dedicates Fort Bend County Justice Center Library in honor of Civil Rights Pioneer, Willie Melton
(FORT BEND, TX) – Fort Bend County Judge KP George, State Representative Ron Reynolds (27th District), District Attorney Brian Middleton, County Attorney Bridgette Smith Lawson, District Clerk Beverly Walker, Fort Bend County Judge Teana Watson (Court at Law Five), Fort Bend County Judge Juli Mathews (Court at Law Three), Kendleton Mayor Darryl, Humphrey, Jr., and others came together today to dedicate the Fort Bend County Law Library in honor of the late Civil Rights Pioneer Willie Melton, a successful farmer, entrepreneur, and activist for racial equality in Fort Bend County.
Members of the Melton family and elected officials unveiled a commemorative plaque at the library, inside the Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 20714 in Richmond, TX 77469 during the dedication ceremony.
Born in Kendleton in the early 1950s, Willie Melton, a black wealthy landowner along with other black residents, legally challenged the County’s all-white primaries that disenfranchised black voters and prevented black candidates from being on the ballot. These primaries were held across Texas until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned them and subsequently led to the end of the system of whites-only primaries in Fort Bend County.
“Willie Melton may not have been a household name, but let me tell you without the efforts of Mr. Melton, Arizona Flemming, and many other Black Americans here in Fort Bend County, many of us might not be standing before you today,” said Judge George.
Fort Bend County Commissioners voted unanimously to dedicate the library in honor of Willie Melton. An honor, his son Franklin Melton said his father would be proud of.
“My father was able to recognize his purpose, and his purpose wasn’t raising turkeys, corn, or watermelon. His purpose was to serve,” stated Franklin Melton.
Since late 2018, the Law Library has been housed on the 2nd Floor of the Justice Center in a 3,000 square foot space with additional research computers, study tables, and conference rooms.