By Maylon Rice
There is an old saying we never really pick our friends – they sort of pick you.
Today it is with a great privilege and honor that I get to write about one of the best men in Bradley County, my friend Sheriff James “Rick” Anders.
He is THE Sheriff in Bradley County. One of the absolute best there has been since 1840 when James Bradley, one of the founders of the newly established county, stepped up to the political bar wear the badge of sheriff and enforce the laws on a new, rough area of our new unsettled state.
James “Rick” Anders – we always called him Rick in High School, is retiring on Jan. 1, 2017.
He has given more than 40 years collectively in law enforcement, the last nine as the Sheriff of Bradley County. He is the 30th individual elected to be the chief law enforcement officer in Bradley County, Two widows of sheriff’s who passed away in office, swell that list to 32 people who have served in the position.
Voters in Bradley County on Nov. 8th elected Sheriff Anders’ successor, longtime deputy Herschel Tillman as the 31st individual elected sheriff.
Sheriff Anders leaves the department in good standing, and as usual better than he found it on Nov. 1, 2009 when he was sworn into office.
As we are seeing law enforcement in America under attack, under the microscope for being less than honorable – my friend, Rick Anders is indeed the exception.
In is nine years as Bradley County’s sheriff he has never fired his gun except at the firing range.
In a wide ranging interview months ago when he announced he would not be seeking re-election to a 10th term, Rick admitted he has “rarely ever pulled my firearm from the holster,” while Bradley County Sheriff.
“And there has been a time or two, I guess looking, back I should have had my gun out, but did not have it out,” he said.
But being sheriff is more about people – than guns, bullets, handcuff or jails.
That is what has made me respect my friend Rick Anders more and more as our nation seems so lawless and disrespectful of the job of public safety and law enforcement.
Rick is a big guy. He is a fine fellow with a sharp mind. He thinks before he speaks, something of a rarity, but a trait that I respect and cherish more than one can ever imagine.
He is slow to anger and slower to show his displeasure with you. He is as even-keeled guy as I have ever known, but knowing his mommy and daddy, as I do, I shouldn’t be surprised.
He was the only son of James and Dorothy Anders. He and his sisters, Tammy and Beverly, were the apples of their parent’s attention. Miss Dorothy survives today as a sterling example of a mom who not only cared about her kids, but the kids around them. There are always a few of your friend’s parents that you just know, love you and care about you, well James and Dorothy were from that cloth for sure.
Rick’s father James was a community treasure. The late James Anders made friends all over Bradley County. He was a well-known man, who knew all of us kids of Rick’s generation by name and by your deeds.
He was a guy who knew you and cared about your future and your actions. He was not above calling you out for your bad actions and he was always first in line for atta-boys when you did well.
The trait about caring for ones’ friends and making new friends plus taking people at their absolute best is a trait James’ passed on to Rick to make his career in law enforcement so smooth.
Rick graduated in the Class of ’73 at Warren High, enrolled at UA-Monticello but found a part-time job in the CETA program to be a part-time deputy under then Bradley County Sheriff Raymond Johnson and also a part-time city policeman under Chief Tommy Dunaway in Warren. Ironically, Chief Dunaway’s son, Joe, and Rick, both played football for the WHS Lumberjacks. Dunaway was the center, while Rick was a tackle and guard in the same line.
College at UAM later went away and Rick began as a deputy sheriff in Bradley County under former sheriff’s Raymond Johnson and later Jack Gambill.
He left Bradley County to help a new Jefferson County Sheriff, William C. “Dub” Brassel, in Pine Bluff for a couple of years.
Along came an opportunity to work for the state in the Arkansas Highway Police in the Weights and Standards Bureau. He logged more than 20 years patrolling the highways and inspecting big 18-wheeler rigs and ensuring the safety of the roads for passenger vehicles.
And opportunity came along as he retired from the state some nine years ago to replace a retiring William “Butch” Belin, as Bradley County Sheriff.
He ran in a race, never looking back and was re-elected time and time again.
That first time he ran I called Rick encouraging his seeking the office. I offered to send him a political contribution. He quickly said “no.”
He said he didn’t want anyone to call him after the election and try to remind him of their contribution.
I reminded him all I wanted was for him to be the best sheriff Bradley County had seen. I sent the donation and have offered another one each and every time he has been placed on the ballot.
He’s not needed my direct support from far away from Bradley County because of his work ethic, his profession law enforcement standards and his personal mantra “of doing the absolute best for the public,” for nine terms. Sheriff Anders has not needed anything but the public’s support of his office.
And he has been the best sheriff to my knowledge over the past nine years in the county’s long history.
He retires as the 30thindividual to be elected as sheriff.
He and his sweet wife of the last 34 years, Nancy Wright Anders, who is a formerly retired county official in the Treasurer’s office, but now back helping out in that office. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Lisa and Dana, the proud grandparents of Laken, Wacey, Nathan, Taylor and Haydon. And they are proudest grandparents of a beautiful granddaughter Oakley.
Rick has always been a Lumberjack as a player and fan. He was a long time and successful coach of the YMCA’s Pee-Wee League Southern Mill football squad. He is always a community volunteer and a friend through and through.
The Anders will be both at home and traveling in their retirement after Jan. 1, 2017.
Nancy says she is waiting to see how retirement works out for Rick before closing the door at the County Treasurer’s office for the last time.
Congratulations to one of the best, Sheriff James Rick Anders, as you ride off into retirement.
There is an old saying we never really pick our friends – they sort of pick you.
Today it is with a great privilege and honor that I get to write about one of the best men in Bradley County, my friend Sheriff James “Rick” Anders.
He is THE Sheriff in Bradley County. One of the absolute best there has been since 1840 when James Bradley, one of the founders of the newly established county, stepped up to the political bar wear the badge of sheriff and enforce the laws on a new, rough area of our new unsettled state.
James “Rick” Anders – we always called him Rick in High School, is retiring on Jan. 1, 2017.
He has given more than 40 years collectively in law enforcement, the last nine as the Sheriff of Bradley County. He is the 30th individual elected to be the chief law enforcement officer in Bradley County, Two widows of sheriff’s who passed away in office, swell that list to 32 people who have served in the position.
Voters in Bradley County on Nov. 8th elected Sheriff Anders’ successor, longtime deputy Herschel Tillman as the 31st individual elected sheriff.
Sheriff Anders leaves the department in good standing, and as usual better than he found it on Nov. 1, 2009 when he was sworn into office.
As we are seeing law enforcement in America under attack, under the microscope for being less than honorable – my friend, Rick Anders is indeed the exception.
In is nine years as Bradley County’s sheriff he has never fired his gun except at the firing range.
In a wide ranging interview months ago when he announced he would not be seeking re-election to a 10th term, Rick admitted he has “rarely ever pulled my firearm from the holster,” while Bradley County Sheriff.
“And there has been a time or two, I guess looking, back I should have had my gun out, but did not have it out,” he said.
But being sheriff is more about people – than guns, bullets, handcuff or jails.
That is what has made me respect my friend Rick Anders more and more as our nation seems so lawless and disrespectful of the job of public safety and law enforcement.
Rick is a big guy. He is a fine fellow with a sharp mind. He thinks before he speaks, something of a rarity, but a trait that I respect and cherish more than one can ever imagine.
He is slow to anger and slower to show his displeasure with you. He is as even-keeled guy as I have ever known, but knowing his mommy and daddy, as I do, I shouldn’t be surprised.
He was the only son of James and Dorothy Anders. He and his sisters, Tammy and Beverly, were the apples of their parent’s attention. Miss Dorothy survives today as a sterling example of a mom who not only cared about her kids, but the kids around them. There are always a few of your friend’s parents that you just know, love you and care about you, well James and Dorothy were from that cloth for sure.
Rick’s father James was a community treasure. The late James Anders made friends all over Bradley County. He was a well-known man, who knew all of us kids of Rick’s generation by name and by your deeds.
He was a guy who knew you and cared about your future and your actions. He was not above calling you out for your bad actions and he was always first in line for atta-boys when you did well.
The trait about caring for ones’ friends and making new friends plus taking people at their absolute best is a trait James’ passed on to Rick to make his career in law enforcement so smooth.
Rick graduated in the Class of ’73 at Warren High, enrolled at UA-Monticello but found a part-time job in the CETA program to be a part-time deputy under then Bradley County Sheriff Raymond Johnson and also a part-time city policeman under Chief Tommy Dunaway in Warren. Ironically, Chief Dunaway’s son, Joe, and Rick, both played football for the WHS Lumberjacks. Dunaway was the center, while Rick was a tackle and guard in the same line.
College at UAM later went away and Rick began as a deputy sheriff in Bradley County under former sheriff’s Raymond Johnson and later Jack Gambill.
He left Bradley County to help a new Jefferson County Sheriff, William C. “Dub” Brassel, in Pine Bluff for a couple of years.
Along came an opportunity to work for the state in the Arkansas Highway Police in the Weights and Standards Bureau. He logged more than 20 years patrolling the highways and inspecting big 18-wheeler rigs and ensuring the safety of the roads for passenger vehicles.
And opportunity came along as he retired from the state some nine years ago to replace a retiring William “Butch” Belin, as Bradley County Sheriff.
He ran in a race, never looking back and was re-elected time and time again.
That first time he ran I called Rick encouraging his seeking the office. I offered to send him a political contribution. He quickly said “no.”
He said he didn’t want anyone to call him after the election and try to remind him of their contribution.
I reminded him all I wanted was for him to be the best sheriff Bradley County had seen. I sent the donation and have offered another one each and every time he has been placed on the ballot.
He’s not needed my direct support from far away from Bradley County because of his work ethic, his profession law enforcement standards and his personal mantra “of doing the absolute best for the public,” for nine terms. Sheriff Anders has not needed anything but the public’s support of his office.
And he has been the best sheriff to my knowledge over the past nine years in the county’s long history.
He retires as the 30thindividual to be elected as sheriff.
He and his sweet wife of the last 34 years, Nancy Wright Anders, who is a formerly retired county official in the Treasurer’s office, but now back helping out in that office. They are the proud parents of two adult children, Lisa and Dana, the proud grandparents of Laken, Wacey, Nathan, Taylor and Haydon. And they are proudest grandparents of a beautiful granddaughter Oakley.
Rick has always been a Lumberjack as a player and fan. He was a long time and successful coach of the YMCA’s Pee-Wee League Southern Mill football squad. He is always a community volunteer and a friend through and through.
The Anders will be both at home and traveling in their retirement after Jan. 1, 2017.
Nancy says she is waiting to see how retirement works out for Rick before closing the door at the County Treasurer’s office for the last time.
Congratulations to one of the best, Sheriff James Rick Anders, as you ride off into retirement.
No comments:
Post a Comment