Longtime HCSO deputy earns promotion

Local News

Discussion

September 24, 2009

By Art Lawler Staff Writer The Athens Daily Review Thu Sep 24, 2009, 09:49 PM CDT

Gwen Miller, a 26-year employee with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, has been promoted to Sergeant over the Civil Division.

In that capacity, she will continue to serve civil papers while supervising the courthouse staff.

However, you may not want to see her coming up your driveway. She’s responsible for carrying out court orders to vacate homes, repossess cars and sometimes children. She also delivers divorce decrees.

It’s a position that brings her in touch with much that is depressing, but she’s built a strong sense of humor to keep her sanity as she goes about her duties. She has a big heart to empathize with those she must confront.

In other words, she’s nice about it.

“You try to leave people with as much dignity as you can,” she said. “I try to be (nice). I talk a lot of trash, but I do care about people. Bad things do happen to good people.”

Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt commends Miller’s law enforcement abilities.

“Sgt. Miller is an expert in civil processing and a very important employee,” Nutt said.

He put her in a supervisory capacity when he took office on Jan. 1.

“About three or four weeks ago, he put some stripes on me,” Miller said. “I’m proud to serve wherever Sheriff Nutt requires my service.”

She had been well-trained for her duties, having earned a an advanced peace officer license.

“I’m specially trained to be a civil deputy,” Miller explained. “I enforce all court documents. It’s hard to explain, but what I do is very serious. Civil and mental health officials also work in her office on the second floor of the courthouse.

“We are the ones you live with when you first get sued, or you are served with divorce papers,” she said.

She has been the wife of Deputy Richard Miller for 27 years. The couple has raised a 23-year-old daughter, Tarah, and a son, Jeremy, 17, who is a senior at Brownsboro High School.

Part of her duties are dealing with mobile homes. If an owner doesn’t pay for the home, Miller will evict that person.

“I will get a writ to put you out, but it bothers me to drive up, and see children’s toys in the yards, knowing this is going to affect them greatly, through no fault of their own.”

The worst memory of her 26-year career matches that of many of her fellow officers. The memory is of losing fellow deputy Tony Ogburn, killed along with Paul Halbert, in a tragic shootout near Payne Springs in February of 2007 during a domestic call.

“I was training him to do my job that day,” she said. “We were working on a mobile home seizure. He wanted to go to the memorial on the square. I couldn’t, so we split up. He went to that, and then went out on the call.

“The rest is miserable history,” she said.

Text Only

Local News

Fair Park sound system gets AEDC boost
The Athens Economic Corporation Board took formal action Thursday morning that should result in a stipend of up to $35,000 to match a Ginger Murchison Foundation matching grant for helping finance the Henderson County Regional Fair Park Complex new sound equipment.

February 9, 2012
Scouts ready to knock doors locally
Once again Athens will be seeing these Scouts Saturday as they knock on doors to collect food in BSA’s National Scouting for Food Drive. Shown are Tiger Cub Hunter Kaufman and Eagle Scout Michael McCluskey. Also shown is Sierra Kaufman, one of several American Heritage Girls who will be joining the boys in their efforts to collect food. In the past few years, despite the economy, over 1,000 cans each year have been collected and donated to Henderson County’s Food Pantry. So when you see these boys and girls in uniform this weekend, open your hearts and help feed the hungry in Henderson County.

February 9, 2012 3 Photos
‘National Red Wear on Friday’ day in Cross Roads
It was last Friday that Cross Roads High School staff and students participated in “National Red Wear on Friday.” The first Friday in February was dedicated for heart-disease awareness.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Churches to join with community at Cain Center
Churches from across Henderson County will come together on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Cain Center in Athens to provide services to all members of the Henderson County community.
“This all grew out of the community coming together during the nativity scene controversy in December,” said the Rev. Eric Graham from Sands Springs Baptist Church.

February 9, 2012
HCSO, Trinidad Police arrest man for meth possession
TRINIDAD – Henderson County deputies and Trinidad police arrested a Henderson County man for possession of a controlled substance Tuesday in this community.

February 9, 2012
Downed airplane located
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office and Texas Department of Public Safety Game Wardens assisted in locating an plane that went down in Lake Palestine early Thursday. The Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.

February 9, 2012
City hears presentation for new apartment complex
The Athens City Council heard a presentation, Wednesday, from a group that hopes to obtain a grant to build an apartment complex in south Athens.
Jay Oji, of Sphinx Development Corporation, said the 80-unit complex called Robbins Villas would be built on a tract of land where Robbins Road intersects with Loop 7. The affordable housing units would cost about $12 million to construct.

February 8, 2012
Coaches tell Kiwanis about programs
Two of Trinity Valley Community College’s newest coaches spoke to the Athens Kiwanis Tuesday at the Country Club.
Trinity Valley Community College Head Softball Coach Ashley Johnston, and Volleyball Coach Tosha Spain, also head up two of the newest programs on campus.

February 8, 2012 2 Photos
Adams addresses Chamber
The Athens Chamber of Commerce brought in Hue Adams Wednesday at its monthly luncheon to remind local business leaders of the finer points of being a leader.

February 8, 2012
Athens Hornet now flying Hornets
A former Athens High School student Bryan Sory is now flying FA-18C Hornets, the U.S. Navy’s frontline fighter plane. Lt. Commander Sory flies for VFA-151, The Vigilantes, based in Lemoore, Calif. VFA-151 deployed aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln in December, 2011, and is currently flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the overarching operation that encompasses, among other things, ongoing counter-terrorism and nation-building efforts in Afghanistan.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Longtime HCSO deputy earns promotion

Site Map

Contact Us