George Hughes, the riot of 1930: Quest for Texas historical marker takes shape
A Grayson County historian is working to memorialize one of Grayson County's darkest days, nearly a century later. Efforts are underway to have the Sherman Riot of 1930, in which a Black man was lynched and Black-owned businesses were destroyed, recognized with the Texas Historical Commission.
Melissa Thiel, a masters graduate from Texas Women's University, is the woman behind a proposal to have a state historic marker erected at the Grayson County Courthouse to recognize the killing of George Hughes and the destruction of the former Grayson County Courthouse and nearby businesses by a mob in 1930.
The attention to Hughes' death comes after a turbulent year marked by marches and movements advocating for civil rights and justice reform following the killing of black men and women by police. This reached its peak in May 2020 with the death of George Floyd, who died by asphyxia while in police custody in Minneapolis.
It was during that summer that Thiel began her research.
The Sherman Riot of 1930
Hughes, a farmhand, went to his employer's residence in early May 1930 seeking payment for work only to be told by his employer's wife that he was not home. Hughes is alleged to have returned later and sexually assaulted his employer's wife.
Read more: https://www.heralddemocrat.com/story/news/2021/02/05/george-hughes-riot-1930-quest-texas-historical-marker-takes-shape/4387368001/
(Sherman Herald Democrat)
Grayson County Courthouse 1887 Courtesy Photo
