Sheriff Donald Valenza, With Wife By His Side Takes Oath of Office From Judge Larry Anderson

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 19 2015 11:19 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:     Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza took the OATH OF OFFICE as Houston County Sheriff today from Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Larry Anderson.

Sheriff Valenza had a large gathering when he took the oath of office in August when he was sworn in as Sheriff on the resignation of Sheriff Andy Hughes. This time Sheriff Valenza decided on a small uneventful Oath from Judge Anderson.

Sheriff Valenza’s wife, Margaret, held the Bible as Sheriff Valenza took the oath from Judge Anderson. Sheriff Valenza decided on the quiet uneventful oath because he did not want a lot of attention towards himself.

Sheriff Valenza beleives that the success of the Houston County Sheriff Department is not Donald Valenza. He beleives the sucess of the men and women, both arrest power officers, correctional officers and entire support staff is what makes the Houston County Sheriff Department successful. Sheriff Valenza did not want attention to him, but attention towards those which surrond him and serve the public.

Donald Valenza started under Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark as a Deputy. He learned a lot under Sheriff Clark on how to treat the public. In a recent conversation we were discussing how law enforcement officers treat the public. Deputies do not have to be told to be nice. They are nice, not because thier Sheriff is elected, but nice because they enjoy serving the public.

Sheriff Valenza cotinued his tenue under Sheriff Lamar "Birddog" Hadden. It is hard to beleive but, Sheriff Hadden left office 20 years ago this month.

Sheriff Valenza continued his tenure unde the 12 years of Houston County Sheriff Lamar Glover. During that time he became the commander of Criminal Investigation Division.

Sheriff Valenza then continued his tenure as Chief Deputy. A post that incoming Sheriff Andy Hughes quickly tapped and capitalized on with Valenza’s tenure through all of the Sheriff’s.

When Andy Hughes announced his resignation, Donald Valenza was not beleived to have any interest to be Sheriff. It was quickly that people contacted him. His remarks were, I have never thought about being Sheriff because I am loyal to the Sheriff’s I work for. Sheriff had never been his ambition.

But quickly with people talking to him, his realizing that Andy Hughes resigned, Donald Valenza decided to place his name in nomination for Sheriff. And he was elected.

The loyalty that Donald Valenza had to his bosses, Sheriff Clark, Sheriff Hadden, Sheriff Glover and Sheriff Hughes, the people of Houston County now have a Sheriff with even more loyalty to the people of Houston County.

The oath was administered to Sheriff Valenza ironically by Judge Larry Anderson. The first person that Larry Anderson met which was a law enforcement officer was Donald Valenza.

Anderson had been tapped to work with the Twentieth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office. The morning of his first day of work, then Assistant District Attorney Larry Anderson ate breakfast at Waffle House. He saw Deputy Valenza who was also there eating breakfast. Anderson asked Valenza for directions to the Courthouse. They have been friends ever since.

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