Michael D. Pace, Deputy Sheriff

Bryan County Sheriffs Office

On Wednesday, December 23, 1998, Deputy Pace was south bound on Highway 69/75 on his way home at about 1:45 a.m. his thought most likely on Christmas with his family. His cruiser was now approaching Choctaw Road as it had many times before. There was some glare in the mist from the headlights of the north bound traffic. Suddenly appeared a dark east bound flat bed tractor trailer across the south bound inside and part of the outside lane. The young deputy reacted by turning his Ford cruiser to the right but he was unable to avoid the portion of the trailer behind the last set of duel wheels. The impact sheered the hood and top from the cruiser. The lower portion of the car continued southwesterly into a ditch and caught fire. The semi-truck pulled on east to clear the intersection. Witnesses put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and tended to Deputy Pace until the ambulance arrived.

Deputy Pace was transported to the emergency room of the Durant hospital and later transferred to the Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, Texas, arriving there at 8:20 a.m. Deputy Pace had sustained massive head trauma and lived almost a week as family and friends kept an around the clock vigil at his bedside. Deputy Pace never regained consciousness. He died on Tuesday, December 29, 1998, just before 8 a.m. Deputy Pace was survived by his wife Shanna and their young son and daughter, Austen and Haley.

John Ellis Williams, Sheriff

Bryan County Sheriff’s Office

John Williams served as the Chief of Police in Durant for four years before he was elected Sheriff of Bryan County. He was in his second term as Sheriff when, on the night of Friday, November 4, 1938, he was involved in a traffic accident east of Madill. A truck had run out of gas and had not exhibited any warning flares. Apparently blinded by the lights of an oncoming vehicle, Williams hit the stalled truck. Chief Williams died instantly from a broken neck. Williams was survived by his second wife Maude and two of his nine children. His wife Maude was appointed Sheriff to serve out the remainder of her husband’s term.