The office of constable dates back at least to 1866 and the Norman Conquest of
England. William the Conqueror appointed constables to supervise individual
communities or boroughs. The office of constable had been transplanted to the
British colonies in North America by the mid-seventeenth century. In the early
years, the constable and justice of peace were about the only law and order most
rural American settlers ever saw.
The
Constitution of 1876 mandated that constables would once again be elected at the
precinct level. A 1954 constitutional amendment extended their term of office
from two years to four.
While
researching the Commissioners Court Minutes, the earliest date we found
constables serving in Shelby County was 1882. The following is a list for
1882-1887:
J. M.
Whiteside, O. A. Bright, B. H. Mitchell, A. C. Ramsey, A. H. Mills, C. R. Smith,
S. L. Harris, J. D. Hairgrove, W. L. Jackson, D. L. McKenzie, J. P. Windham, B.
Pleasant, J. E. Perkins, J. W. Hurst, M. F. Witherspoon, J. B. Tyler, Hugh
Ballard, William Walter, G. M. Lowery, J. R. Richardson, G. P. Brittain, S. F.
Jordon, W. A. Walker, Joe Ferguson and J. F. Beck. The ones serving in 1913
were: J. M. Risinger, T. G. Watson, J. W. Brittain, C. McNeil and C. C. Hooper.
The following
is a list of constables taken from the Court Minutes starting in 1936: Clyde
Pearce, O. L. Parker, Eddie DeFriend served from 1936-1960, J. L. Smith, K. B.
Choate, R. B. Alford, D. E. Chapman, Frank Francis, M. P. Enmon, Joe Adams,
George Windham, C. H. Perry, John Templin, D. E. Alford, M. L. Powers, Brown
Chandler, W. H. Ramsey, Bill Reynolds, Charles Barbee, J. D. Cook, Joe F.
Campbell, Sam Davis, J. C. Wiggins, William Runnels, R. P. Burns, Max Menefee,
Johnnie Hughes (In 1960, he was the youngest constable in Texas.), Tom Spurlock,
Turner Sparks, Rob Stone, Tom Myers, Hoyt Walker, Fred Green, O. F. "Butch"
Adams, Billy Graves, Clovis Goings, J. T. Hughes (He died in office and his
wife, Delores, finished his term.), Jack Hughes, Dexter Vaughn, Everett Harbison,
Max Churchman, James E. Carlton, Johnny Clinton William and Joe S. Alford.
Carol Wayne
Milford has been serving Precinct 5, the Timpson area, for over thirty years. He
was first elected to this position in 1967. David Vickery was elected to serve
Precinct 4, the Tenaha area, in 1974. Kevin Windham has served Precinct 2, the
Shelbyville area, since he was elected in 1992. Billy F. Hearnsberger was
elected to serve Precinct 3, the Joaquin area, in 1998. Zack Warr was elected to
serve Precinct 1, the Center area, in 2001. These five men are the current
(2002) constables in their precincts.
Today,
constables numbering approximately 780 are elected from precincts in most Texas
counties.
Historical Society
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