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Dr. George Washington Buckner was born in Kentucky but received most of his public school education in Indianapolis. He attended state normal school at Terre Haute and in 1890 graduated from Eclectic Medical College in Indianapolis. Shortly thereafter he began his medical practice in Evansville.
Also an educator, Dr Buckner was the principal of Independence School.
Bucker was a staunch democrat,who felt the political rewards were greater for blacks in the party of Jackson, which he believed did not take blacks for granted. He formed an alliance with white politician John Boehne, who was an outspoken opponent of vice.
An active citizen, Buckner was a trustee of Alexander Chapel AME church, helped establish the Cherry Street Street Black YMCA, and was a leader in the United Brotherhood of Friendship.
Bucker also edited the "Colored Folks" column in the Democrat newspaper.
Considered the 'Elder Statesman of Indiana Blacks", Buckner was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson as the ambassador to Liberia.
The Evansville Boneyard - February, 2008
Photgraph courtesy of Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana
