Sheriff's Posse Celebrates
20th Anniversary

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

2007 Posse Members

 

It was on October 31, 1987, in a field near the Aguire Cemetery, north of Sulphur Springs, that a group of local horsemen gathered to form the Hopkins County Sheriff's Posse, under Hopkins County Sheriff, Mark Bassham. The group has continued to support Hopkins County Law Enforcement for the past twenty years with manhunts, security at a number of events in the county, and has been a dominant presence throughout the area. They met and celebrated their 20th Anniversary on Saturday afternoon, October 27th, with a stew and ceremony. Roger "Tex" Maynard served as the Master of Ceremonies.

 

 

Roger "Tex" Maynard, right, served as the Master of Ceremonies.

 

Charter members of the organization included: Roger "Tex" Maynard, Charles Sellers, Jerry Jackson, Cletis Millsap, Dwight Bruhn, John Jackson, Eldon Stewart, Walter Darlin, Horrace Irby, Larry Mitchell, Millard Bennett, Mark Bassham, Earl Martin, Mitch Wasko, Johnny Stribling, Tommy Darlin, Bill Frazier, Herbert Anderson, Marvin Duval, Ken Wisdom, Shorty Swatsell, Hugh J. McClendon, and Charles Cromer. Non-members present at the meeting were young boys, Zane Darlin and Lance Martin.

 

 

Today, Roger "Tex" Maynard, Marvin Duval, and Earl Martin remain active in the organization. However, the organization continues in strength and membership. Two honorary members have been named to the organization in the past twenty years and they are Vera Harrington and Carla Ware. The organization has served three sheriffs, Bassham, Bill Dirks, and current sheriff, Charles "Butch" Adams.

 

 

A "riderless" horse was presented in memory of the Sheriff's Posse members who are deceased.

 

Buglist, Kelly Fletcher, played "Taps."

 

As a tribute to those posse members that have passed away, a riderless horse was presented, as their roll of names were called, and then a three round volley was fired by current posse members, and Kelly Fletcher, buglist, played "Taps." Deceased posse members include: Walter Darlin, Bill Dougan, John Jackson, Hugh J. McClendon, Nolan "Shorty" Swatsell, Kenneth Wisdom, and Harlan Craig. Family members of the deceased were recognized during Saturday's ceremony.

 

 

The ceremony concluded with the naming of the Posse Member of the Year, and that award was presented to Gary Moon.

 

Posse member, Gary Moon, was recognized as the Posse Member of the Year.

 

Hopkins County Stew, much like that served at the initial charter meeting, was served to members and guests, as they told of the many activities of the organization and the experiences that they had gathered.

 

 

 

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