Vernon F. Dahmer, Sr.
Vernon Dahmer (1908-1966), a farmer, businessman, and Civil Rights leader widley known for his belief that "if you don't vote, you don't count" was killed here defending his home and family from a gunfire and firebomb attack on January 10, 1966. While he fought the assailants, his family was able to escape. The Ku Klux Klan had targeted Dahmer, who had once served as president of the local branch of the NAACP, for his support for voting rights for African Americans. Convictions followed for several klansmen.
Additional tablet
This historical marker was donated to the Dahmer family by the faculty and students of
The Lift Every Voice: Freedom Institute 2004