Sheppard "Shep" Mullens

The Handbook of Texas records what Mullens did in office. He voted for the Texas State Police and a militia to control violence, and for a public school system open to every citizen, while joining other Black legislators in unsuccessful opposition to school segregation. He introduced a bill to extend Waco's city limits. In 1869 General Joseph J. Reynolds appointed him to a four-year term as a McLennan County commissioner. According to the Handbook he died on August 7, 1871, a day later than the marker says.

What the plaque says

Sheppard "Shep" Mullens Following the American Civil War and Emancipation of slaves in 1865, it was not until 1867 that African Americans in Texas were able to uniformly register to vote, following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While African Americans served as delegates to state constitutional conventions prior to 1870, the first African Americans elected to serve in the Texas Legislature were elected to the 12th Legislature, which convened in provisional session on February 8, 1870. Prior to the end of federal Reconstruction in 1870, twelve African Americans served in the Texas House of Representatives, and two served in the Texas Senate. This marker is erected in honor of: Sheppard "Shep" Mullens (c. 1829 - August 6, 1871) representative in the 12th Texas Legislature representing McLennan, Limestone and Falls counties. Sheppard (also Shep, Shepperd, Sheppert) Mullens (also Mullins) was born into slavery in Lawrence County, Alabama around 1829. He was brought to Texas in 1854. After Emancipation, Mullens acquired several lots in Waco and other land in McLennan County. On December 29, 1866, he married Sallie Downs. Mullens emerged as a community leader, was appointed to register voters in the county, and served as a delegate to the Republican Party convention and Constitutional Convention of 1868-69. Mullens won a seat in the 12th Texas Legislature. He served on the Immigration and Privileges and Elections committees. While still in his term of service, Mullens died on August 6, 1871, in Waco and was buried at First Street Cemetery. Erected by the 88th Texas Legislature and the Texas Historical Commission as Authorized by SB 667 (2023)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Dr Pepper Museum — 0.3 mi
  The 1906 bottling plant of the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company, built where Dr Pepper outgrew a Waco drugstore soda fountain, now the Dr Pepper Museum.
• Waco Suspension Bridge — 0.5 mi
  A Brazos crossing opened in January 1870 as the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi, tolled until 1889, closed to vehicles in 1971 and now walked.
• Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum — 0.9 mi
  The official state repository of Texas Ranger memorabilia, opened in 1968 in Fort Fisher Park on the Brazos, named for a Ranger post of 1837 whose site no one has located.
• Armstrong Browning Library — 1.2 mi
  A three-story Italian Renaissance library on the Baylor campus built to hold A. J. Armstrong's Browning collection, dedicated in December 1951 and now, by its own account, the world's largest of Browning material.

More markers nearby

• The Courthouses of McLennan County — steps away
• Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. — steps away
• The Waco Tornado — steps away
• Gerald-Harris Shooting — steps away