William D. McCoy

(Nov. 14, 1853-May 16, 1893). Born in Cambridge City, Indiana, but educated in the Boston, Massachusetts public school system, William D. McCoy, an African American, served as county superintendent of schools in Helena, Arkansas, and later moved to Indianapolis where he served as principal of Public Schools 23 and 24 from 1879 to 1890.

An aspiring politician, McCoy was one of five Republican candidates for the Indiana House of Representatives in 1890, all of whom were defeated by their Democratic opponents. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison appointed McCoy as minister and consul-general at Monrovia, Liberia, over three other well-known Black Indianapolis professionals: Samuel Elbert, physician; Levi Christy, school principal; and James S. Hinton, politician and former state legislator.

Only four months after his appointment, McCoy became gravely ill. The rigors of Liberia and the combination of poor health and the extreme climate caused his death. The school board named School No. 24, McCoy’s first principalship formerly located at 908 West North Street, in his memory.

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