Paul Lawrence Pope Building

Paul Lawrence Pope Building

Image Credit:
Top: Katherine Pope; Bottom: Barbara Suggs Mason

Paul Lawrence Pope was born in Champaign, IL, the son of Cecil and Carrie Alice (Lee) Pope on November 30, 1935. He was the youngest of six children in a family with deep roots in Champaign County.

After graduating from Champaign High School, he entered the army. Following the military, he joined the Champaign County Sheriff’s Department and served in the department for nearly 30 years, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He died on June 22, 1996. Later that year, the Champaign County Board passed a resolution to name the new county jail after him. The building was dedicated on October 26, 1996.