James William (Bill) Etheridge was Honored Today

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: May 13 2014 5:53 PM

This morning Alabama State Senator Harri Anne Smith and Sheriff Wally Olson (Dale Co.), gathered together with members of the Etheridge Family at Annice Strickland’s house (Bill Etheridge’s sister )to pay tribute to James William (Bill) Etheridge.

Bill’s mother died of cancer 11-27-1930, Bill’s father died 7-13-1939. Sometime in late 1939 or early 1940 he left Alabama to seek work in SC. He married Vera Hardwick in 1940 and worked with her family in lumber business.

 

In 1942 he joined Police force in Branchville, SC and was elected Chief of Police in 1948 again in 1950.  He also worked with Fire Department. When he left Alabama he took his younger brother Jack, (who was 16 at the Time) with him to SC.  Jack continued to reside in SC until his death.

 

Around 10 PM June 30. 1951 two men got into an argument over songs on Jukebox. One man went home and got double barrel shogun.  He fired one shot into the café. 

 

Chief Ethridge heard shot and went to investigate. The man fired another shot into café hitting Chief Ethridge  in chest, same shot  killed another man. Chief Ethridge died in route to hospital Orangeburg, SC. Chief James W. (Bill) Ethridge was inducted into SC Law Officers Hall of  Fame May 7, 2014.

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