Sampson honored by Optimists

Longtime Montgomery County Sheriff Joe Sampson was honored with the Red Oak Optimist Club Don Maher Hall of Fame award at Red Oak’s National Night Out event Aug. 6. Vice President Dan Crouse said Sampson started his career as an MP in the Army, served as a peace officer and later chief in Griswold for a total of 16 years, then started with Montgomery County in 1992 as a road deputy, then first deputy, then civil process deputy, and as a jail administrator before being elected as Montgomery County sheriff in 2008, serving three terms for a total of 12 years before retiring. Crouse said Sampson, who passed away in 2023, loved being in law enforcement and believed in treating everyone equally. Crouse also shared that Sampson never knew a stranger and always saw the good in people. The award was presented to members of Sampson’s family. Pictured are, from left: Dan Crouse, Ben Sampson, Joey Sampson, McKenna Sampson, and Optimist member Rick Leinen.