HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton is the state's longest-serving active sheriff. That's according to the Georgia Sheriff's Association.
Sheriff Cullen Talton is in the middle of his 13th term. He says it's been a long time, but that being at the sheriff's office is his life and he looks forward to coming to work every day.
Born in Bonaire, this sheriff has seen a lot of change over the years.
"I remember when the base started over here in 1942, I believe it was. I was 10 years old," Talton said.
That 10-year-old eventually ran for office at age 40.
"A lot of the votes I got were because of my father," Talton said.
Folks in Houston County first elected him sheriff in 1972. Next month, he'll hit 50 years on the job.
"Well, you know, I never dreamed I would stay in office this long. When I ran, I said, 'I'll probably be in there eight years, maybe, if I get reelected;' and here I am, still here," Talton said.
Talton manages a staff of more than 300, including patrol, traffic, investigators, court, and detention officers. He says when he started the sheriff's office had just "28 employees total."
"I tell you what the reason I am here is -- because of my employees. I've got some of the best employees," Talton said.
Those employees have been by his side as the county grew from about 66,000 people to now more than 166,000.
"People ask me every day, 'Are you going to run again?' I say, 'We are going to think about that later,'" Talton said.
At 90 years old, he says it makes him sad to think about retiring because he's met so many good people.
"I just want to say, 'Thank you to the people who elected me, and thank you for keeping me in office as long as you have. I love you. I love Houston County,'" Talton said.
Talton says back in the day, he also remembers working in a 16-inch snowstorm. He also told 13WMAZ he helped when former President Ronald Reagan and former President Jimmy Carter came to town.
Sheriff Talton says right now, they have only three unsolved cases in 50 years. He wanted to tell the community that he has not forgotten those cases or those families. They are still working on them.
Before being elected sheriff, he was a Houston County commissioner and a dairy farmer. He has two years left in his current term.
Sheriff Talton says his great-great-grandfather was a sheriff in 1850.