Irmo invites the community to unveil a historical marker that will honor Judge Harold R. Boulware, Sr.

Irmo, SC 08/21/2025 – The community is invited by the Town of Irmo as they commemorate the life, legacy, and judicial contributions of the Honorable Judge Harold R. Boulware, Sr., civil rights attorney, public servant, and trailblazing jurist. A historical marker will be unveiled in his honor on September 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at 131 Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo, SC 29063. Transportation will be provided to the historic site beginning at 9:00 a.m. and the event is expected to last approximately 1 hour.

Born in Irmo, South Carolina, Judge Boulware was educated at Harbison Agricultural Institute (Irmo, SC), Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, NC), Howard University School of Law (Washington, D.C.), and was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. At Howard, he was mentored by civil rights giants Thurgood Marshall and Charles Hamilton Houston, whose guidance shaped his lifelong commitment to justice and equality.

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Judge Boulware rose to prominence as Chief Attorney for the South Carolina NAACP in 1941. His most significant case was Briggs v. Elliott, which he filed and served as local counsel with Thurgood Marshall and Robert Carter. This pivotal school desegregation lawsuit (originating in South Carolina) became Brown v. Board of Education, the most celebrated civil rights case in American history!

In 1969, Judge Boulware was appointed as the first African American Associate Judge for the Columbia Municipal Court (Columbia, SC) and later as a judge in the Richland County Judicial System, earning widespread respect for his fairness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to equal justice under the law.

We will honor Judge Boulware’s extraordinary legacy with the unveiling of an official South Carolina Historical Marker in his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina. Celebrating his enduring impact on civil rights, public service, and judicial achievements.

A reception for Judge Harold R. Boulware Sr. will be held at Midlands Technical College - Harbison Theatre | 7300 College Street, Irmo, SC 29063. 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Refreshments will be served.