Georgia has the nation’s longest-serving sheriff. That’s about to change in 2024
Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton Jr., the nation’s longest-serving sheriff, whose time in office spans the terms of eight governors and 10 U.S. presidents, said Wednesday that he will not seek re-election next fall.
Talton, who is 91 years old and in his 13th term, cited his age as one factor in his decision to retire next year.
“I’ve been here, if I make it the next year and three months, 52 years,” he said. “And it’s time for somebody else to take the reins.”
Talton was a cattle and row-crop farmer when he was elected in November 1972 at age 40. He took office when Jimmy Carter was in his second year as Georgia’s governor.
Talton, who had first been a Houston County commissioner, decided to run for sheriff to help usher in an era of professional law enforcement.
“I didn’t think we had it (at the time),” he said Wednesday, “and that’s what I ran on.”
Talton is thought to have served longer than any sheriff in the state, having eclipsed the tenure of the late Earl Hamrick, who was the Twiggs County sheriff for 48 years.
“I guess the credit for me being in office so long is my employees,” Talton said. “I’ve been fortunate to hire real good employees and they’ve done a good job for me.”
Talton has a reputation as a strong leader, and one who works behind the scenes. He has rarely held news conferences to announce arrests or busts. For someone in office so long, he has kept a remarkably low profile.
“I’m not a micromanager,” Talton said Wednesday. “When I put somebody in a position, I expect them to perform. And they do. I’m very fortunate.”
Sheriff Terry Deese of neighboring Peach County said Talton has molded the Houston Sheriff’s Department into one of the best in the state.
“He’s always been a friend and a mentor,” Deese said.
Speaking of Talton’s decision to step down after next year, Deese said, “That’s some shoes nobody else will ever fill. ... We won’t ever see that record (for time in office) broken.”
Houston County’s population has nearly tripled since Talton became sheriff, rising from 63,000 to 163,000.
Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece referred to Talton as “a great friend.”
“I look upon him as family,” Reece said. “He’s a gentleman sheriff.”
— Telegraph staff writer Micah Johnston contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 4:35 PM.