Extracted from The Panola Watchman (Carthage, TX)
Wednesday, November 14, 1990

Former sheriff dies

Johnnie H. Spradley
1914-1990

Services for former Panola County Sheriff Johnnie H. Spradley, 76, of Carthage will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 14, at Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. W. H. Hitt and Rev. Barney Bryant will officiate. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park. Spradley died Monday, November 12, at his residence.

He had served as Panola County Sheriff on three different occasions.

He was first elected to the post in 1956 and was re-elected in 58, 60 and 62. In 1964, J. B. Hunt was elected, but Spradley returned in 1966. In 1970, Acie Henigan was elected, but Spradley was re-elected in 1972, although he did not complete his term.

``He was a good man from a good family,'' remembered local historian Leila Belle LaGrone. ``He served this county for a long, long time.''

Former Panola County Commissioner Roland Davis recalled Spradley as a good community servant.

``I knew him all my life,'' Davis said. ``I worked with him for 16 years. He was a good sheriff and did a lot of good for Panola County. He helped a lot of kids in this area.''

Born February 14, 1914, he was the son of John Ransom and Sally M. Foshee Spradley. He was a native and life long resident of Panola County. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the V.F.W. in Logansport, Louisiana. He was a member of the Carthage Missionary Baptist Church. Spradley was preceded in death by his wife, Dora Dean Bounds Spradley, who died March 3, 1984.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Johnnie Ray and Mary Ellen Spradley of Longview; one daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and Kenneth Malone of Carthage; one sister, Bonnie Thomas of Carthage; four grandchildren, McDeanna Bogue and Kurt Bogue, both of Van, Forrest Spradley of Diana and Karen Aldredge of Longview; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Gary Jones, Forrest Spradley, Kurt Bogue, Timmy Spradley, Willie Spradley Sherman Spradley.