Gray Ghost panel honors historic, current law enforcement

 Members of the Fulton Police Department, Callaway County Sheriff's Office and other county law enforcement agencies stand before an ovational crowd Tuesday during the last Gray Ghost panel dedication at the Callaway County Courthouse. In addition to honoring George W. Law and celebrating the installation of the final panel on this phase of the Gray Ghosts Trail in Callaway, the ceremony gave thanks to local law enforcement agencies and first responders.
Members of the Fulton Police Department, Callaway County Sheriff's Office and other county law enforcement agencies stand before an ovational crowd Tuesday during the last Gray Ghost panel dedication at the Callaway County Courthouse. In addition to honoring George W. Law and celebrating the installation of the final panel on this phase of the Gray Ghosts Trail in Callaway, the ceremony gave thanks to local law enforcement agencies and first responders.

During the Kingdom of Callaway Civil war Heritage's ceremony for the installation of the final Gray Ghost Trail panel in Callaway County, 1870s county sheriff George W. Law only held half of the spotlight.

photo

Shana Barrett and Missy Penor

Though the panel honors Law, a Confederate veteran who lost his arm in the war and his life later in the line of duty as Callaway County Sheriff, the ceremony Tuesday afternoon honored the current men and women of Callaway County's law enforcement agencies.

Dozens of police, fire and emergency response officials and more than 100 history buffs and other citizens filled 5th Street outside of the Callaway County Courthouse for the ceremony.

The dedication featured a performance of patriotic songs from the Fulton High School Band, and began at 5:15 p.m. Members of the local Sons and Daughters of Confederate Veterans were present in full regalia. The dedication was hosted by Heritage co-chair Joe D. Holt, and featured presentations from Heritage chair Martin Northway, former Callaway County circuit Judge Gene Hamilton and Heritage member Warren Hollrah.

George W. Law was county sheriff from 1872 to 1873, when he was shot by a vigilante mob while transporting a criminal. He died several days later from his wounds. The Fulton Rotary Club's G.W. Law Award, which honors "outstanding law officers in Callaway County," is named in his honor.

It is a distinction that Joe Holt said Law shared with other law enforcement officials in Callaway over the years, and first responders during the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers over a decade ago.

"They were doing a job the rest of us did not want to do," he said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.