The Look...Lone Star Sheriffs

You Can Always Learn

Behind his desk, Sheriff Keith Gary of Grayson County, Texas leans toward me and says, “You can quote me on this, I was wrong!”

 

Let me introduce you to my friend Keith Gary.

  Keith was a 5’7” former drum major in college and after graduation, an insurance agent. Somehow by fate, accident, or an act of God he found himself sporting the badge of a U.S. Marshall assigned to East Texas.

  You can call Keith a conservative. He served under Nixon but resigned rather than serve under the Carter administration. With the election of Reagan, he was reappointed. When Clinton was elected, he resigned again and was again reappointed by Bush.

  Now, truth be told, he might have been replaced or not. It doesn’t matter because he didn’t wait around to find out.

  In 1996, he was urged to run for sheriff in a county that had never elected a Republican. He ran against a long seated incumbent and along with two other Republicans began a trend. In 2013, all 23 elected county officials will be GOP!

  To say he is beloved in his county is a statement that I have found can be said for many long-serving Texas Sheriffs. Keith is a gentle natured soul who displays courtesy and respect with the ease of a guardian angel.

  As a matter of fact, as I sit across from him in his office, or attend his Rotary luncheon, or wander around with him. I am ever fascinated by his frankness as we get to know each other. I think of a younger George Burns. I want to stick a short, fat cigar in his hands and take a picture, but he is not going for it.

The G-Man Look

Hat Etiquette, the Cowboy Way

Cowboy Hat Etiquette

by J.B. Blocker 

  I had a few long talks with one of my sheriff mentors and friend Sheriff Tom Maddox of Sabine County, Texas along with several other Texas Sheriffs. 
  We all agreed that the etiquette concerning the Cowboy's hat needed to be public knowledge. 

  Sheriff Tom's grandpa gave him his first boots and hat at age 3, and he's been wearing them ever since! Thanks for the additional input from Sheriffs Bob Holder of Comal County, Dan Law of Caldwell County, Don Sowell of Grimes County, Randy Brown of Medina County, and Keith Gary and the boys of Grayson County.

  The rules aren’t complicated. Heck, I’d just suggest the use of common sense. Of course, there are plenty of folks lacking in that area. They need some guidance. 

  Here are some traditional rules for wearing a cowboy hat.

Learning America

‘The Big Book’ RIP (1893-1993)

Recognizing one of this country’s greatest teachers.   By JB Blocker

The Millennials don’t know about this. Much of the GenX Generation don’t either. As an immigrant from the ‘60’s, the Sears and Roebuck catalogue was one of my best friends. It taught me America!

  The first true Sears catalogue was produced and distributed in 1893. Many others were to follow. It became an iconic life line of what people wanted and needed across America. It you had a mailing address, you could own anything in those pages.

  Clothing, toys, guns, farm tools, kitchen, living room, garage items, even houses and cars stirred the imagination of children from the city streets to farms, fields, and newly discovered parts of this growing country.

I remember in the early ‘70s listening to some old cowboys at the local pool hall in my panhandle farming community. They got in to a discussion about the new Christmas catalogue at the Montgomery Ward’s one day. The talk started over the price of things. But the discussion moved to how they had been making their wish list from those catalogues most of their lives. Those pictures of what the world looked like outside of their world gave them reasons to save their money.

  Studying catalogues allowed America to become aware of the cost of things and how much money they would need to save.

  A few seniors talked about the catalogues as a teaching tool. You could learn how to read while you were learning the value of all those items available from the pages of pictures, descriptions, and prices.

My Crash Course

Sheriff Danny Glick, 2015 NSA President

I have grown to be a fan of the Sheriff of Laramie County, Wyoming. He wakes me with morning coffee often. We have a lot of common likes and opinions.
  He has now completed the awesome responsibility and honor of being the 2105 President of the National Sheriffs Association. I intend to stay engaged with this couple you can't help but enjoy.

  The new president began his term with the Baton Rouge murders in his backyard. Louisiana Sheriff Greg Champagne steps in to a world that has been turned upside down. Another friend and mentor Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall County Texas will be the 2017 President. I am a blessed man.
  Danny addresses everyone with his natural style along with a gracious acknowledgement of his his family and the world of dedicated 'guardian angels' the rest of us call Sheriff.

  Just as a fair warning, this is going to be a long post. And if you're anti-law enforcement "hang up" now, this will just make you mad and you'll be wasting your time by reading on....... So here goes, I recently was in Minneapolis where I handed off the reins of the National Sheriffs' Association to a very capable Sheriff, Greg Champagne of St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. 
  It has been an honor to be President of the NSA for the last year. But the real honor began 14 years ago when I was elected by my constituents as Laramie County Sheriff, I am humbled ever day.     

  During the convention in Minneapolis my family and a very good grade and high school friend were able to attend and share time with Pam and me, it was great to see every one. I was able to renew many friendships and make many new friends. 
  Our host Sheriff Rich Stanek and his staff, the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association, local law enforcement did an absolutely great job of security, and making sure that this old country boy didn't get lost in the big city. Many pics of the event were taken and shared on facebook with you and I was again honored by your positive responses of friendship and support, thank you all.

  I'm sorry I took took so long to get out here and give my thanks for your support, but if you remember it was not long after the conference that law enforcement officers from across this great country of ours came under assault yet again. 
  Out of respect for them, their families, and the communities where they served, I held off. I'm sorry to say that these murders look like they are going to continue on. I could make a political statement here, but most of you know how I feel, so let me say this instead.....if you so believe, keep our law enforcement officers in your prayers. God Bless You, God Bless our Law Enforcement Officers, and God Bless the greatest Country in the World, the United States of America!!!
Danny Glick, Sheriff of Laramie County, Wyoming, U.S.A

' 

Lines

  I started this 1200 mile plus road trip from McKinney to Amarillo and on to Dalhart and Clayton in the far northwest corner of Texas. The return trip takes me back down west Texas before cutting east to DFW. I will pass through 37 of the 254 counties along the way and I try to fill my memory banks with identifiers for each of these counties. The pastures and farms, gas plants and wind farms, feedlots and living creatures. 
  On the way back from the farthest NW and back to Dumas on the way to Amarillo I am seeing my home in a whole new way. 
  I am thinking of bank robbers, cattle rustlers, and the evolution of the sheriffs of Texas all the way to it's modern day technology.
  I have sheriff friends all along the way, but I can't visit them all, I have to be in Garden City by morning for a very important interview.

A Big Point of View

On the Border

jb blocker

 

Sheriff Leon Wilmot

Yuma County, Arizona

Jim Pond, Leon Wilmot, J.B.Blocker, Kieran Donahue

  I've got to admit, God is good! And once again I randomly get seated next to someone I really like who happens to know first hand what we all wonder about the border issues. I am definitely grateful to add him as a trusted resource.

  Leon tolerated my questions for several days and gave me astute responses with ground floor awareness.

  The big man with the soft eyes and gentle style has literally been there, done that along the Arizona/California /Mexico border all his life save for a 4 year stint in the Marines. 

  The big drugs, the baddest criminals, by land, sea, and air. On the water, under the water.    This sheriff has studied, lead, and taught about their constant border issues.

  I plan on keeping up with this sheriff as a trusted and available sharer of the truth as I move toward a comprehensive report from the 31 US/Mex Border sheriffs. Even better! I want to keep him as a friend.

  Among around 200 law enforcement representatives on county, state, and federal levels, the Arizona host sheriffs and deputies gave us the 1st hand reality of enforcing around a border population like the city of Naco surrounded farms, ranches, and deserts.

  There are incredibly dedicated, educated, responsible people on the front lines. It is the bureaucracy getting in the way. I met them from every point in the country. They came to find common grounds and share insights and experience.  Meet Sheriff Leon Wilmot.

Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot is currently the President of the Arizona Sheriffs Association. 

  He began his career in law enforcement in 1985 as a Reserve Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, after completing four years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a full time deputy on July 11, 1987, Wilmot’s first job as a public safety deputy was the start of a 27 year career of public service.