Former Garland County Sheriff Clay White, who died Friday, was a man who wore many hats throughout his storied career, but he spent the majority in law enforcement, protecting the people of the community he called home.
A decorated World War II veteran and an FBI agent for 26 years, White was appointed the first director of the newly created Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in July 1977, serving until March 1980, when he left that position to run for Garland County sheriff. He would go on to serve six terms, from 1981 to 1992, before finally retiring.
"Clay White was a great man and law enforcement officer," Larry Selig, who succeeded White as sheriff in 1992, said Tuesday. "I owe my law enforcement career to him. He will be truly missed."
"He hired me and was a true man of integrity," former Sheriff Larry Sanders said. "He supported me when I ran for sheriff and always had helpful advice. He truly dedicated his life to law enforcement and was an awesome sheriff and mentor."
Sanders recalled a time when he was working as a narcotics investigator and one particular suspect he was investigating began driving by his home repeatedly even though Sanders lived on a dead-end street, apparently in an attempt to intimidate him.
"When Sheriff White heard what was happening he had patrol bring the individual into his office so that he could speak with him," Sanders said, noting White "did all the talking" and afterward the suspect "never came within 10 miles of my home again. He was a great boss and truly cared for his employees and the citizens of Garland County."
Sheriff Mike McCormick said he began his law enforcement career working for White in 1982, noting, "He was the epitome of a policeman's policeman. Not only was he a local hero, but he treated everyone with respect and compassion. I always looked toward Sheriff White as a role model.
"He will be greatly missed, but he leaves a legacy behind that will continue."
Debbie Cozart, who served as secretary in the GCSD's Criminal Investigations Division from 1977 to 2012, said Tuesday, "(White) was a great boss, very professional. He took pride in making the department one of the best in the state. You never knew when he might show up in your department to make sure you were doing your job."
Born in Texas in 1925 during the Great Depression, White grew up in Oklahoma and was inducted into the U.S. Army right after his graduation from high school, serving with the 102nd Infantry, or Ozark Division, Ninth Army, in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and earned two Bronze Stars.
After the war and his graduation from Oklahoma State University, White became a special agent for the FBI, serving as the resident agent in Hot Springs beginning in 1954. Many of his exploits with the FBI, including dealing with illegal gambling in Hot Springs, are recounted in his biography, "Lawman: The Story of Clay White, A Life of Service," by Orval Albritton of the Garland County Historical Society.
Included in the book were numerous letters of commendation written to White by then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover for his work with the FBI, including 23 years as the Garland County bureau chief, before retiring in 1977 to accept the position as director of the state crime lab.
When White left that position to seek the office of sheriff, he received a rare endorsement from the then-editor of The Sentinel-Record, Mike Masterson, who noted White had confided in him he "was tiring of the 120-mile round trip from Hot Springs to Little Rock" each day and "wanted to make a contribution in law enforcement closer to home."
Masterson wrote, "I feel strongly that White's proven leadership and professional abilities could well provide Garland County with the best managed, most qualified sheriff's department in the South today."
In the forward to Albritton's book, Liz Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, noted White was "a crucial part" of Hot Springs' evolution from a "wide-open illegal mecca for gamblers, gangsters and crooks" to the family friendly resort destination it is today.
White's lifetime of service "helped shape the life of a community," Robbins wrote.
A celebration of White's life will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church with a reception following in the Christian Life Center. Burial will be at Geary Cemetery in Geary, Okla.
Local on 03/21/2018