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Prentice Wayne “Dick” Middleton
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In the early
days, the Texas Rangers could be an appointed position. Therefore, in 1946 the
Governor of the State of Texas asked Shelby County Sheriff P. W. (Dick)
Middleton to become a member of the Texas Rangers.
Prentice Wayne (Dick) Middleton was born January 21, 1901, in
Shelby County near Shelbyville, Texas. He was the son of C. M. Middleton and
Clara Morrison Middleton. He attended Shelbyville schools and attended the
Methodist Church in Shelbyville.
In his young adult life he worked the wheat fields of Kansas
and the oilfields of Oklahoma. On November 29, 1926, in Holdenville, Oklahoma,
he married Ione Lee. In 1928, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton moved back to Shelbyville
from Oklahoma and on to Center, Texas. In Center, Mr. Middleton worked for
Runnels Chevrolet Company and later went into the grocery business.
The year 1942 saw Mr. Middleton elected Sheriff of Shelby
County. He served in this elected office until 1946 when he was appointed by the
Governor of Texas to the Texas Rangers.
He served six years in Company A of the Rangers, where he was a respected law
officer.
In 1952 he resigned his commission as a Texas Ranger and
entered into private business, establishing a feed business in Center, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Middleton have two daughters, Marie Yvonne
Middleton Loveladdy and Patsy Ruth Middleton Lowery.
Mr. Middleton died on September 15, 1953 and is buried in the
Shelbyville Cemetery, Shelby County, Texas.