Honoring Former Sheriffs

Honoring the Past While Looking to the Future:
A Reception for Families of Former Sheriffs

Sheriff Jones welcomed the families and discussed his idea for
collecting the history of the Sheriff's Office. Major Anderson has
worked for over a year to complete Phase One, which goes back
to 1928.

Members of Sheriff Columbus Rader's family were present.

John Tolbert, a member of Sheriff Jarvis Tolbert's family told how
Sheriff Tolbert always said Sheriff Road was so named because
of the many stills he demolished in that part of the county.

Sheriff John Walsh's grandson, James Dula, and great
granddaughter, Donna, were present.

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With one member of the family currently serving in the Sheriff's
Office, the family of Sheriff J.B. Myers talked about how he
designed the "new" jail - the one behind the courthouse.
He drove his personal car on the job, and gave of his time to
speak to school groups.

Sheriff Ray Moore's wife Ruth and sons Kenneth and Barry related
how well-known and respected Sheriff Moore was. Even
though he missed his children's sporting events, he was
always in church with his family on Sunday

Sheriff Jones and Mrs. Moore

Sheriff Claude Goble's family related that for a while, he was the
only man in four counties who could take fingerprints. He also
served as a Justice of the Peace and Coroner, and when he died,
many of those he had arrested came to his funeral because they respected him greatly.

Sheriff Bliff Benfield's daughter related how passionate he always
was about his job as Sheriff, which he held for 14 years. He always tried to lead people in the right direction rather than throwing
the book at them.

Sheriff Roger Hutchings was accompanied by his parents, sister
and brother-in-law, and he discussed the need for a Christian
foundation and a solid staff behind the Sheriff. He designed the
current detention facility and according to Major David Anderson,
was always "in the trenches" with his men.

Major Anderson also recognized the daughter of Deputy Leonard Goble. Deputy Goble was accidentally killed in the line of duty on
June 2, 1934, and Sheriff Jones worked to get Deputy Goble's
name on the monument in Washington, DC.

Deputy Goble's daughter was extremely grateful for Sheriff Jones's
efforts to have her father's sacrifice recognized.

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Darrell Goble (left), son of Sheriff Claude Goble, hangs the
photograph of his father while Jeff Benfield (right), son of Sheriff
Bliff Benfield, hangs the photograph of his father.

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Megan Clark, daughter of Sheriff Gary Clark, hangs his photograph.

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Phase I of the History of the Sheriff's Department completed and hung.

After the program, the two Sheriffs visited.

Sheriff Jones discusses Phase II of the project with Heritage Museum director, John Hawkins.

Major David Anderson with former Sheriff Roger Hutchings and current Sheriff Alan Jones

The attendees enjoyed meeting other law enforcement families and visiting together

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