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Claude McKinney, who serv ed Collingsworth County as sheriff much of the time for a ‘6-year period and as justice’ of the peace since 1963, cele brated his birthday at his of fice in the courthouse Monday, Jan., 8 when friends came by to do coffee and wish him well. Several county officials and employees helped with the en tertaining. He did not say which birth day it was, but his outlook is youthful and this is what his friends see about Claude Mc Kinney. His tenure as sheriff included some of the most colorful epi sodes of Collingsworth law en forcement history. Yet he has to be in an especially mellow mood to talk about them. He has been shot at by criminals, but no bullet ever hit him. Some of his methods have been unconventional, as when a man wanted here was picked ‘Rinney” convinced that resting convinc e sheri he could put the man on the bus and he (Claude) would pick him up at Chil ie That is the way it was. Mr. McKinney said he never intended to become a law en forcement officer. He had come to Dodson in 1912 to freight with a wagon and team. He tells how it came about: “While I was hauling freight, had a fight. The sheriff said could work as @ deputy or pay @ fine. So I became a law man. I liked the work, the peo ple and the town.” In 1917, he moved to Well ington and served as chief of police three years, then deputy sheriff under J. W. Langford. In 1924, he ran for sheriff and was elected. After that, he was seldom out of office and never for more than one term. He insists that he has had no outstanding honors. “Just the friendship of the people is enough for me,” he said. He likes people too well to pursue a hobby. “The County of Collingsworth and the people of Wellington have been very good a me and I appreciate all the friends I have in this territory, he said on his birthday. Claude McKinney was born ~See back page
Newspaper Details
Wellington Leader
Wellington, Texas, US
Thu, Jan 18, 1968
Page 5
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 07 Feb 2026
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Wellington Leader
