howeenterprise.com
Gary
Monday, February 15, 2016
Page #3
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https://www.independent-bank.com/ Sheriff Gary - Drawn by Howe Police Chief Carl Hudman
Photo taken on Wednesday by Gay Brennan
As a student at Lamar University, Gary was required to take a speech class, chose the topic "The Need for a Republican Party in Jefferson County" and interviewed the Republican Party chair in Jefferson County to get information. Years later, he went to a meeting of the Republican party, which was in its infancy in Texas, at the time, and a lawyer approached him. The Northern part of the district (Tyler) had gotten the appointment for U.S. attorney, so the southern part of the district wanted to have a person from Beaumont or Port Arthur appointed as Marshal. He asked the lawyer, "You're really serious?" and the man replied, "Oh yes!" At the library in Beaumont, all he could find about Federal Marshals, was a breakdown of the Departent of Justice from a few government textbooks. In the 1960's, a Marshal was an administrator with a group of deputies to direct.
the old Blackstone Hotel and there 8-10 cowboy-types were standing there, all wearing western hats and boots. Gary walks up in an olive green suit and flat shoes, at the end of the line and where all the other men were waiting to be interviewed by a panel of judges. The guy next to him was about 6' 7", looked at him and said, "What are YOU doin' here?" "Well, I'm here to interview for the Marshal job." "WHAT?!?! Are you a policeman or a sheriff?'' "No, I'm a fire and casualty insurance agent." "A whaaat??!!"
He was questioned by a panel of eight who explained they would let him know their decision. "Next day, Monday morning I went to the insurance office where I worked and about 10:30, the receptionist said there was a telegram for me. I opened it up and it said, 'It is my pleasure to nominate you for U.S. A few days later, the lawyer called Marshal, signed John G. Tower,' him to ask if he had made a who was a Senator in Texas at the decision about the Marshal job and time. It took about five to six said, "We have to get someone in months to do a background Tyler by Sunday to be investigation, I was sworn in and interviewed." Gary replied, "I'm not served in that capacity for eight sure I am qualified for that, but go years, from 1969-1977. Then the ahead if you want and submit my politics went against me." Jimmy name." Carter was elected President which meant all the Republican appointees He drove 200 miles and arrived at continued on Page #5
