MAY 14, 1971
When Richmond County Sheriff E.R. “Foots” Atkins died on this date, he continued an uncommon development.
Between 1914 and 1971, all 5 duly elected Richmond County sheriffs neither retired nor misplaced an election. All died in workplace.
It began when J.T. Plunkett was sworn in earlier than America entered World Warfare I. It continued with Sheriffs Gary Whittle, James Plunkett (son of the previous sheriff), George Mutimer and eventually Atkins, a big man whose dimension 13 footwear gave him his nickname.
The streak lastly ended after Atkins’ demise when Invoice Anderson turned sheriff. He misplaced reelection in 1976.
After that, serving as Richmond County sheriff turned a usually wholesome pursuit, most likely to the aid of former Coroner Nathan Widener. Beneath Georgia legislation, a county’s coroner turns into interim sheriff if the latter dies, and thrice over 20 years (1952, 1962 and 1967) Widener was summoned to double responsibility.
