The Heart of Lebanon is honoring five outstanding women in the Boone County community throughout history in honor of Women’s History Month.
Recently, the Heart of Lebanon honored Audra Peper, the first woman to serve as Sheriff of Boone County, and she held the title of the only woman to serve as Sheriff for 51 years until Judy Hudson assumed the role in November 1986.
Peper was born in 1896 in Boone county and began her career as a clerk in her father’s grocery store in Lebanon before marrying her husband, John Peper, in 1922. Her husband strove to become Sheriff and eventually secured the position in November 1934. However, he died in a car crash while responding to an emergency call on Feb. 7, 1935, leaving the office of Sheriff open for the county to fill.
Within a few days of the accident, the Boone County Commissioners appointed Peper to serve the remainder of her husband’s term, marking her as the first woman to become Sheriff in Boone County.
Peper did not seek re-election in 1936 and continued her career as she worked several jobs before returning to her roots in the grocery trade, opening her own business named “Peper’s Market” in Lebanon.
Peper passed away in 1973 and was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
Peper’s legacy as the only woman to serve as Sheriff in Boone County persisted for 51 years following her initial term until Judy Hudson secured the office in November 1986, becoming the second woman to serve as Sheriff of Boone County.