Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter

from Lone Star Reporter: 
Gary Painter was a friend to me. Over the past decade, I have visited and called on him often... sometimes for opinion and sometimes for advice. I always felt his John Wayneness. His quiet thoughtfulness, His long tall frame, His long arms that swung like a slow pendulum when he walked like a determined man. He was always determined.
After he walked away from a 50 ft. fall in a gyrocopter, he told me the next day that he would do it again if I supplied a better pilot!
You should know something about him. His is a life worthy of statues, schools, and street signs.  jb

Sheriff Gary Painter’s legacy lives on in Midland 

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter was photographed for USA Today standing with a portrait of Sgt. Mike Naylor in the William Alders Justice Center that houses the sheriff’s office. Naylor was killed Oct. 9,

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Midland County’s beloved sheriff, of nearly 35 years, died in late May – but his legacy lives on.

Veteran Gary Painter enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966 and served two tours in Vietnam before going into law enforcement.

He was hired as a patrolman in 1970 by the Department of Public Safety, with the Culberson County Sheriff’s Office, Presidio County Sheriff’s Office and the Midland Police Department before joining the Midland County Sheriff’s Office in 1982.

In three years, he worked through the ranks from the detention division and criminal investigations units to patrol lieutenant and in 1985, assumed the office of sheriff.

It was under the leadership of Painter that Midland County jail facilities entered the 21st century – literally and technologically.

MCSO Chief Deputy Rory McKinney and interim Sheriff Richard Gillette said they worked with Painter during his entire time as sheriff.

McKinney, who is running for sheriff in next year’s general election said he joined the MCSO in 1986, just one year after Painter was elected, and has been with him ever since.

“He’s with me,” McKinney said, “I think the employees who are currently there – I think he is with them, just like he’s with me every day. He’s always with us.”

Spending nearly every day with Painter for 34 years, McKinney said there isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t want to sit in Painter’s office and ask him a question.

McKinney said it’s going to be hard without the sheriff this Christmas. It was tradition to meet at the courthouse for Christmas – and he said it was always one of Painter’s favorite events because he enjoyed getting the law-enforcement family together for fellowship.

Wearing Painter’s iconic outfit, a white shirt and flag-patterned tie, Midland County Judge Terry Johnson said he and Painter were good friends, and he misses their conversations – especially during Show of Support, an event created to honor wounded veterans.

Each year, Painter was at Johnson’s side, helping him organize and lead the event. Last month, for the first time in 16 years, Painter wasn’t at the judge’s side, though Johnson said he was still there, and he wanted others to know he was still part of the event.

Gillette said he was already at the sheriff’s office when Painter was elected sheriff and had been friends with him ever since the first day they met.

As interim sheriff, Gillette said he thinks the transition at the office has been a good one, and it’s been an honor to follow someone with such impactful leadership. Throughout his time in this role, he said he tries to exhibit the values that Painter did.

Both McKinney and Gillette said the most recognizable characteristic of Painter’s was his priority of treating everyone with fairness.

“Sheriff Painter was fair to everyone, regardless of their status in life, how much money they had, ethnicity – he didn’t care about any of that,” Gillette said. “It didn’t matter what all they cared about or what their beliefs were; he cared for everyone the same.”

Gillette said what he remembers most about Painter was that he would always ride along with the young officers and patrol the county until 4 or 5 in the morning, and he’d be back at work to start the new day at 8 a.m.

“He was quite a guy, and never seemed to stop working,” Gillette said.

McKinney said Painter lived by the idea to: “treat everybody fairly and believe in God, and everything will work out.” He added that he was “larger than life” and “never met a stranger.”

He hopes to instill those same values into others, as Painter would have done, McKinney said. However, he does not believe there will be anyone who could take Painter’s place.

“I’m definitely not even going to try to fill his shoes, nor should anyone else, because there will never be another Gary Painter,” McKinney said.

Because he was alongside him for so long, McKinney said he knows Painter would be proud of the office for prioritizing these values most – even if the office wasn’t being led exactly the way he had led it.

McKinney said he thinks Painter would tell them now that they are doing an excellent job and they should continue to keep their heads up and keep moving forward.

“Sheriff Painter was a legend – a great man who left a big hole in this world when he left,” Gillette said.

- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962.