Sheriff Dale Williams remembered as a dedicated public servant

CCM Staff Report

Carroll County Sheriff Dale R. Williams is being remembered as a man of dedication to his county, his profession and those he served.
The office he led for the last 18 years announced his death on Facebook the morning of Sept. 24, saying, “It is with our deepest sympathy that we inform the community that after 18 years of proudly serving Carroll County as your sheriff, Dale R. Williams has passed away peacefully.”
Almost immediately, the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page began filling up with comments and condolences for his family.
Among the hundreds of comments were the following praises:
“Being a volunteer firefighter that is on a dept. that serves parts of Carroll County, I can’t give this man enough praise for the job he did. It didn’t matter if it was a 2 a.m. or 2 p.m. call, Dale was there. He was a great man that served the county better than anyone could ever imagine. He will be missed by everyone who knew him and those shoes will never be able to be filled to the capacity to which he wore them. RIP Dale,” wrote Jeremy Dierick.
“Williams rescued me out of the woods on 12/28/2008 after a tree fell on me. He was helping carry me out of the woods when I came to. I looked up and all I seen was this man looking at me begging me to stay calm with tears in his eyes. I asked who he was, and he told me. I cracked a joke hoping to make him laugh and let him know I was ok. He looked around and laughed and said, ‘He’s gonna be ok,’” commented Richard Edwards.
“Deepest sympathy to his family, all the deputies, the community and the entire county. Sheriff Williams was a hands-on Sheriff, always available and ever present,” commented Mohawk Valley Joint Fire District Chief Jim Marraccini.
“Our community was blessed with a sheriff who loved his community and served them with all his heart. Our sympathy to his family and our gratitude to Sheriff William,” stated Debbie Longbons.
Williams began his career in law enforcement in 1969 as a dispatcher for the late Carroll County Sheriff Dean Yeager. He later served as a full-time road deputy, and as an officer of the Carrollton Police Department, promoted to Sergeant in 1994. He was elected sheriff in 2004.
His obituary states he was once asked about his goals for a local newspaper article. “Just do my job for as long as I can, as well as I can,” he said. “With the team of officers I’ve got, this department is just . . . the best in the state. I want this county to be a better place to live, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The funeral service will be held Friday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. in the Bell-Herron gymnasium, located a 252 3rd St. NE, Carrollton.
Calling hours will be held Thursday from 4-7 p.m. in the gym.
The county courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of the funeral.