By Gwen Johsnson staff writer
From the January 21, 1994 edition of The New Castle Record
Former Craig County Sheriff, BB McPherson, who spent 32 years enforcing the law, befriending people wherever he went and sticking to his guns was honored at a retirement party at the Salem Civic Center on Jan. 16.
More than 200 well-wishers turned out for the seated dinner, music by Deer Creek and lots and lots of funny stories and jokes.
The most serious moment in the whole program was at the opening prayer by Mike Bowman. After that laughter dominated the rest of the evening.
The roast got underway with a story that E.G. moses, a retired Virginia State Police officer, told about the times he and “BB” had when McPherson first became sheriff and he was training him.
“We have 74 years of police service between the two of us.” Then he said, “This is the day we’ve talked about and waited for and now it’s here, but sometimes the journey is better that the destination.”
And so it remains to be seen just how sweet the destination will be as McPherson has only been retired for 16 days.
Next Master of Ceremonies Mike King took over along with the help of cohort Mike Bowman, and the laughter never stopped. If the old adage “laughter is foo for the soul” is true, then everyone should have gone home on a natural high. The funniest part of it all is that it’s hard to tell truth from fiction as far as the story telling went.
If some of the stuff was told has happened anywhere but Craig County, I would have been certain it was made up. But after listening to Mike Bowman declare the reason he asked to be transferred over here in the line of duty, I wonder just what was truth and what was fiction.
I am sure of two things, only those who have been there since the beginning know the truth. I also know that every time I think about some of those stories, I will laugh no matter where I am or what I am doing just like I do every time I wake up in the middle of the night.
It goes without saying when you get Mike King and Mike Bowman telling stories you’re going to laugh for a long time. And just for the record, they’ve already started telling tales on the newly elected Sheriff of Craig Count, Clifford Davidson. No one is exempt. Of course, he goes way back there too with almost as many years of service in Craig County as McPherson. Look out fellows, some day you are going to retire you know. Hard to tell who’s taking notes.
McPherson was looked up to as sheriff, literally, since he stands over six feet tall, but Mike King made a statement that shows how the people of Craig including the children felt about him from the beginning.
“When I first came to Craig County all the kids called me BB. Anyone that had on a badge and wore a gun was BB to them.” Now come to think of it, over the years whether he was on duty, at a picnic or having lunch in a local restaurant he always took time to play with the children and they loved it.
Even during the awards there were humorous moments.
When Herb Lightner, Sheriff of Highland County for the past 18 years, stepped up to the microphone to present McPherson an award on behalf of the Virginia Sheriffs Association for outstanding leadership and dedication to the high principles of Virginia Law Enforcement, he had this to say. “BB and I go back a long ways. I knew I could always count on him for advice and guidance. Even today If I am uncertain what to do about a given situation I always ask myself what would BB do. Sometimes I still call him and ask for his advice and then I tone it down a little bit because I don’t think I could get by with what he tells me in highland County.”
In appreciation and recognition for continuous and loyal service to the Law Enforcement Profession and in cooperation with the Department of State police, Captain Charlie Compton of the Virginia State police and F/SCT W.W. Viohl, Jr., presented McPherson with a shadowbox frame containing the sheriff’s patch as well as a State Police patch.
Also awarded was a Forest Service Enforcement patch by Captain Woody Lipps of the U. S. Forest Service for 52 years of service and outstanding support provided to the Forest Service Law Enforcement.
The patch was framed from wood from the local national forest.
The most impressive presentation of all, as I see it, was a solid gold sheriff’s badge inscribed with the dates 1972-2003 which was presented by Mike Bowman on behalf of everyone in Craig County Sheriff’s office.
It was then McPherson expressed his sentiments and thanked everyone.
“I’ve had a fine staff to work with all these years, and I appreciate all they’ve done for me. And the opportunity to serve the people of Craig County. There are some mighty fine people here.”
The program ended with a song written and sung by Mike King accompanied by Deer Creek entitled “Ballad of BB.”
It was sung to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song and reportedly depicts the life of McPherson.
And so it is with love and appreciation that the people of Craig County celebrated BB McPherson’s retirement, and it is with gratitude from the people that he made the journey.
-Prepared by Shelly Koon
