Honoring those who have guided past law enforcement, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office hosted a ceremony Monday night as part of an effort to preserve the department’s 168-year history.

Thirteen past sheriffs, along with Alan Jones, the office’s current leader, had their portraits placed on display on a wall that lines a department hallway.

The first of a three-phase plan, the ceremony was attended by family members of past sheriffs and also preserved the memory of Deputy Leonard Goble, who was accidentally killed in 1934.

“This is just the start of a history,” Jones said. “We want to honor each sheriff. And I hope we can do every one.”

Working for the past year to get the project off the ground, Jones and Maj. David Anderson consulted with the Caldwell Heritage Museum to compile photographs and histories. In addition, family members contributed items of memorabilia that are encased in the main lobby of the office.

Those honored Monday served as far back as 1928 and included Roger Hutchings, who served from 1990-2003.

Kim Clark – widow of former Sheriff Gary Clark, who passed away in February 2007 – summarized the night by saying, “We all had wonderful men in our lives.”

The sheriffs recognized included: Columbus Rader, 1928-30; John Walsh ,1930-32; Jarvis “J.C.” Tolbert, 1932-1938; Felix Parlier, 1938-1946; George Greer, 1946-1954; Clyde Roberts, 1954-1958; J.B. Myers, 1958-1966; Ray Moore, 1966-1972; Jim Clark, 1972-1974; Claude Goble, 1974-1976; Bliff Benfield, 1976-1990; Hutchings, 1990-2003; Clark, 2003-2007; and Jones, 2007-present.

Anderson said he continues to seek information, photographs or other memorabilia for past sheriffs, including Elijah Moore, 1841-1846; Washington Ballen, 1846-1849; Lewis Hartley, 1849-1852; Robert Tuttle, 1852-1866 and 1880-1884; Robert McCall, 1866-1880; Magruder Tuttle, 1884-1888; H.M. Kent, 1888-1890; J.V. McCall, 1890-1892 and 1903-1904; A.H. Boyd, 1894-1902; Madison Estes, 1902-1903; John Smith, 1904-1910; J.P. Icard, 1910-1913; Jerome Triplett, 1913-1922 and F.T. Sherrill, 1922-1928.