Longtime Glasscock County Sheriff Passes Away
By: Big 2 News Staff
Updated: January 22, 2013
GARDEN CITY -- A West Texan who was the longest serving sheriff in American history has died.
Royce "Booger" Pruit passed away on Tuesday morning.
Pruit, 75, served the Glasscock County Sheriff's Office for 50 years.
Pruit was named as a glasscock County Sheriff's deputy in 1958, after he graduated from Garden City High School.
Pruit was appointed as Glasscock County Sheriff in 1962.
Pruit served as the county's sheriff until 2008.
"The way we were told it was Booger told them he would come back but he wasn't staying very long," Glasscock County Sheriff Keith Burnett told Big 2. "He would give them six months to a year to find a new sheriff. 47 years later -- in 2008 -- he decided to retire. So his 6 months ran a little long."
During his early years in office, Pruit drove his own car, paid for his own gas, and ran the jail and dispatch by himself.
Even after retiring, Pruit offered guidance when he could.
Pruit is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law and eight grandchildren.
A graveside service is set for January 24th at the Garden City Cemetery.
Glasscock County also is planning a memorial for Pruit in the next few weeks.
Royce "Booger" Pruit passed away on Tuesday morning.
Pruit, 75, served the Glasscock County Sheriff's Office for 50 years.
Pruit was named as a glasscock County Sheriff's deputy in 1958, after he graduated from Garden City High School.
Pruit was appointed as Glasscock County Sheriff in 1962.
Pruit served as the county's sheriff until 2008.
"The way we were told it was Booger told them he would come back but he wasn't staying very long," Glasscock County Sheriff Keith Burnett told Big 2. "He would give them six months to a year to find a new sheriff. 47 years later -- in 2008 -- he decided to retire. So his 6 months ran a little long."
During his early years in office, Pruit drove his own car, paid for his own gas, and ran the jail and dispatch by himself.
Even after retiring, Pruit offered guidance when he could.
Pruit is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law and eight grandchildren.
A graveside service is set for January 24th at the Garden City Cemetery.
Glasscock County also is planning a memorial for Pruit in the next few weeks.
