FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS Sheriff 1965-2001 SAM BELLAH “PEACE OFFICER” Recent memorial services for long time friend and Freestone Co. Sheriffs Office Reserve Deputy Sam Bellah. Deputy Bellah lived and had businesses in Streetman and Fairfield for many years. Graveside services held Fairfield Cemetery with friend former Texas Highway Patrolman, Texas Ranger and Streetman Baptist Church Minister Clayton Smith conducting the service. Sam and wife Doris Cole moved to Streetman in l970’s after his retirement from the Dallas Police Dept. as a Motorcycle Sgt. Doris and I been friends many years as both attended school together in Fairfield. Sam a WWII Navy veteran, well known and respected among Dallas PD, an Honor Guard of five uniformed motorcycle officers attended and escorted at his funeral and National TV told of his death. Motorcycle Sgt. Bellah was leading the procession in l963 in Dallas when President Kennedy fatally shot and immediately led the procession to Parkland Hospital where he died. Sgt. Bellah was very involved in all the activity here that day. Dallas PD Officer Marion Baker from Streetman and close friend of Sgt. Bellah was the officer seeing Oswald leave the Book Depository where the shots fired from and the gun used found leading to his arrest. Sgt. Bellah and Officer Baker retired after 20 years and both moved to Streetman and both became Reserve Deputy’s for me. Both great officers and very involved in local affairs. It was a pleasure knowing and working with them. Sgt. Bellah served about 15 years as a Reserve with me and serving as a Lt. at his retirement. For many years a marked Sheriffs Office patrol car was furnished Lt. Bellah to keep and use as needed, when not in active use it was parked in front of Bellah’s home on FR 246 and I45. Lt. Bellah made many local calls mostly at night. The people of Streetman and area felt safer and slept better due to this which many told me how much they appreciated it. I don’t remember a serious incident during this time. He was also a good source for local information. While with Dallas PD and Freestone Co. Sheriffs Office he served as Cartoonist doing hundreds of pencil drawn satirical works on the Depts. and its officers. I think I have a complete copy of those done while with the Sheriffs Office and all enjoyable, educational and most truly represented the subject. Deputy Bellah was a soft spoken, low keeled officer not looking for recognition or credit but in solving the problem and helping those needing it. He didn’t always follow the rules but got the job done. We need more peace officers like this. Doris Jean and Sam Bellah were and are dear friends. *** Freestone Co. blessed with many outstanding citizens, recent loss of Cotton Gin business man Junior Lide a good example. When I first remember Junior he and his father were in the hay baling business. He then ventured into the construction of steel storage tanks in a small shop behind his Cotton Gin home. Successful here he expanded into a larger operation employing numerous people and shipped his tanks, ect. all over the nation. Sonny Cox delivered many of them to many areas before becoming a Dispatcher for the Sheriffs Office which he also very good at. Today his son’s continue the business at three locations on US 84 & FR 1366. This a prime example it still possible for a small business man to succeed. *** From the Original Sheriffs Report l971 Deputy on deal where man lost coon dog and located with another mans name on dogs collar and trying to sell it, charges filed for theft after man refused to release unless paid for its keep, changed mind when saw jailhouse. Thief probably with sweet tooth took whole candy machine from service station. Office complaint late Sunday night from lady advising boy friend came on bus for visit, she drove him around most of night with him drinking her beer until got too much then hitting her and running off. Leon Co. Sheriff Wilson in hospital over night, not sure how he getting worked on but know one of his weaker points, been talking about training lightning bugs to detect narcotics. Called and only thanks I got was he would try to return the favor and that he knew he should have gone out of State. Wortham Police reported being investigated (not the FBI this time) by Unfair Labor Board on complaint (he is the sewer man also) about him not going into sewers with other hands. Learned that Limestone Co. Constable Red Copeland’s grandmother was a sister to infamous Jesse and Frank James, this easy to believe. Housewife returned home at night for fast entrance and faster exit when prowler or burglar surprised in the house. Promotion of Big Time Wrestling for Emergency Corps assisted greatly by Hubert Reynolds who always ready to lend a helping hand. *** Grandpa’s Report Streetman recently to Streetman VFD fund raiser barbeque missed Wortham a came off on same day. Today they have new building and fine equipment, brought to mind day’s gone be when had one old truck and had to go get gasoline or bring gasoline when needed as couldn’t leave in fire truck due to local kids siphoning it out. Pleasant and informative visit with Doris and Arthur Patrick in Richland on area and family history. Lots of relating history with Patrick’s and Richland. The Methodist Church in Richland was started by the father of John Wesley Harding who probably the most notorious gun slinger but just didn’t get the credit.