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Playing "Tears in Heaven" 
By Eric Clapton

SAM WILSON CATRON

1953 - 2002



With a smile on his face, and with love in his heart, Sam Wilson Catron, 
loved and admired by thousands, had his life whisked away by the lowest of the low, 
a sniper hiding in the bushes just waiting to take the life of what 
was possibly the most honored man ever to have served his area so well.

If there is a heart that has not shed many, many tears due to this horrific loss, 
that heart must not have known or had any knowledge of this exceptionally wonderful 
and truly dedicated man. For those who knew him or had knowledge of him, 
their tears will not end with his burial; their thoughts will not cease to harbor 
the many acts of kindness, the many hours of service, 
and the unconditional love this man has given.



FOR ALL HE DID, FOR ALL OF US
HE SHALL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED

When his brother died, Vince Gill wrote
“Go Rest High On That Mountain”

Although Vince Gill may not
have known or loved our wonderful Sheriff,
all hearts who knew and loved Sam will think of him
when they see this inspiring verse or hear this beautiful song.

Like most of us, Sam had retirement plans,
never dreaming that he would be taken from this world
by crazed murderers. 

Sam had bought a large tract of mountainous property
east of Somerset where he built a picturesque log home. 
He thought that he, his family, and his friends 
could enjoy the well stocked multi-acre lake, 
watch the diversity of wildlife, 
delight in the quiet seclusion of the beautiful woods, 
and admire the fantastic views.

Although our beloved Sam was taken from us,
and from the dreams of his lifetime,
we shall always picture his spirit there,
high on his mountain,
surrounded by his family and friends.

Go Rest High On That Mountain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

I know your life 
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren’t afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered round your grave to grieve
I wish I could see the angels’ faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing

Go rest high on that mountain
Son, your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son

OUR DEAR SAMMY

You can’t imagine how we cried
On that terrible night you died.
Your tragic death that was so senseless
Has left our county absolutely defenseless.

We’ll always see your smiling face
There will never be one who can take your place
No one who’ll devote so many long hours
No one else can exhibit your loving powers.

You were certainly respected for miles around
A person without tears could not be found
You, so very humble and so very sweet
Would not have imagined how many would meet

To show their love for you, the greatest of men
Knowing you so dedicated to each of them had been
Knowing that you had lived and served so well
Crying for the horrible manner in which you fell

Hating those who took away your precious smile
Knowing we’ll all suffer for a long, long while
Suffering for the others who loved you so
How much so many loved you you’ll never know

Oh Sammy, dearest Sammy may you go in peace
Your dreams for our county must never cease
Maybe some how, some way we can go on again
Without you, one of the world’s most honored men.

God loves you too and will keep you in His care
And you can be sure our hearts will be there
Thinking of you with our hearts filled with love
Remembering you here yet seeing you smiling above

We are thankful we had you for those few years
We know if you are watching you would wipe our tears
Each person you touched really loved you so
More than you or anyone could possibly know!

Sam Catron, Pulaski County’s beloved Sheriff,
surrounded by the love of God and many thousand mourners
was laid to rest next to his father, Harold Lewis Catron, in
the Somerset City Cemetery while police helicopters flew overhead.

As Delynn Gibson steered Catron’s chopper to the right,
leaving the complete V-shape formation and forming the
missing man formation, audible sobs were heard throughout
the cemetery becoming even more pronounced when a 911 dispatch broadcast Sam’s

FINAL CALL

“DISPATCH TO UNIT 111, PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF SAM CATRON, 
WHO HAS SERVED WITH DIGNITY, VALOR AND HONOR TO ALL PULASKI COUNTY. 
111 YOU HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, YOU HAVE FINISHED THE COURSE, 
YOU HAVE KEPT THE FAITH AND NOW MY FRIEND 
WITH THIS FINAL CALL MAY YOU REST IN PEACE
IN THE ARMS OF GOD. 

DISPATCH CLEAR AT 1601 HOURS

ON APRIL 18, 2002”

QUOTES AND TRIBUTES

FROM A FEW OF THOSE WHO KNEW AND LOVED

SAM CATRON

“I hope the people of Pulaski County, Kentucky, realize what they have lost. Sam Catron truly cared about your people.” – Paul Piergiovanni, retired police officer, Youngstown, Ohio



“Sheriff Sam Catron made the ultimate sacrifice, and like his father who died years ago, we will never forget his service, his dedication, his professionalism and his courage.” – James V. Dipaola, Sheriff of Middlesex County, Mass



“You couldn’t have asked for a better boss.” - Chris Fisher, Pulaski County Deputy



“There will never be another man that knows as much about Pulaski County as Sam.” – Jason Estes, Pulaski County Deputy



“Sam Catron’s contribution to America was significant.” - John Ashcroft, 
U. S. Attorney General 



“To protect and to serve was priority number one for Sam.” – Dr. Mark Toby



“Sam was the truest and most dedicated public servant I have ever known. He loved his work. He didn’t need any of this explained to him. He wrote the book.” – Darrell BeShears, Pulaski County Judge-Executive



“Pure and simple, Sam Catron’s motivation was the love of his people. You realize the kind and depth of that love that motivated Sammy Catron. Can there be any doubt but that Sammy Catron loved us? His entire life was dedicated to serving and protecting his friends.” - Harold Rogers, 5th District U. S. Congressman



“We are praying for the Catron family and the community at this time of sadness.” - President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush



“Sheriff Sam Catron truly was a super hero. We know exactly where Sam is today. He is with Christ.” – Bro. Gerald Ashley



“I could call him, day or night, and they would page him and he would come.”
- Becky McBride



“Sam dedicated his life to the people of Pulaski County and to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was a man whose honesty had never come into question, and whose integrity was above reproach. Sam ate, slept and breathed law enforcement; it was his life.” - Jim McWhorter, acting Pulaski County Sheriff



…”He answered the call…of himself gave his all, and a part of America died. God bless you Sam Catron, and all the others who wear a badge. You are appreciated.” - Danny Calhoun, retired Deputy Sheriff, Los Angeles



…”Thank you, Sam, for a job well done, from your county who loved, respected and will never forget you. Rest now, for you have surely earned it.” - Linda Evans, Admin. Assistant Downtown Somerset Development



“Sam walked tall and spoke softly, but no matter what the problem, he was always there to help fix it. I thank God for the time we had with him. I called him Sheriff. I called him Sam. But, the greatest thing I ever called him was ‘friend’”. – Karla Ann Ballew 



“You folks had a tragedy in your community. In memory of Sheriff Sam Catron, I tried to deliberate over a song that would be appropriate, in this memory of this man who spent his life fighting crime.” - Charlie Daniels in concert at The Center for Rural Development (Charlie Daniels and The Headhunters Band performed “A Simple Man and “Sprit in the Sky” in his honor)



“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. That’s what Sam Catron did for us…..He was a true friend to the students, the staff and the parents.” – Joe Burton, superintendent Science Hill Independent School



“As long as I have known Sam, he has been interested in law enforcement. We have lost a good friend and a good law enforcement officer.” Mac Godby – President Cumberland Security Bank



“Sheriff Catron was very dedicated to his career. His career was his whole life, but even with that he was active in our community.” – Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, Somerset physician”



“Sam Catron was the best sheriff in the state. He worked hard. He worked 18-hour days. He flew the helicopter. He had the drug dog. I don’t know how he stood up to as much as he did. You have lost the best sheriff you will ever have. Catron was one of the best 3,088 sheriffs in the nation. “ - Peanut Gaines, Warren County Sheriff and former president of the National Sheriff’s Association



“In my entire life, I never had a friend as true as Sammy, and I don’t think I ever will. I never knew a man more dedicated or as wonderful as Sammy, and I feel sure I never will.” - Ron Jones, Somerset Realtor



“Sam was more than just a sheriff. He was a friend of firefighters. Whatever was needed, he was there. He was one of us.” – Tiger Robinson, Public Safety Officer



“Sam was a man who truly cared about our community. He was concerned about the people in our county having a safe place to live and by that, I mean with the drug and alcohol problems, trying to clean that up. He was a very dedicated law-enforcement officer in Pulaski County.” - Rev. Joe Altman, senior minister First Christian Church



“He was a 24-7 sheriff, always on duty. That was his life. He was very professional. He has been sheriff for 17 years. That says something about his character. He had a caring outlook and a willingness to give first time offenders a break, if one was deserved.” - David Moss, Ferguson Chief of Police



“No words can describe how I feel. To me, he did so much for this community. It is a tragic, senseless act that never should have occurred. “
– Larry Wesley, Somerset Police Chief who also expressed amazement at Catron’s ability to “outthink” the criminal element. 



“Sam Catron was a true friend who spent his life and gave his life doing what he enjoyed, protecting the people. He was a very devoted person to the community. He will be missed as a peace officer and as a man of peace within the community. His murder is a shock to Pulaski County and to all of the Commonwealth.” - Vernie McGaha,, State Senator, R-Russell Springs



“Sam’s death was probably the most devastating thing to happen in my life. He’s the best deputy I ever had. I could go home at night, and Sam Catron would be working all night.” – Johnny Adams, former Pulaski County Sheriff



“With deepest sympathy to the Catron family and to the members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s department, I join the many others who ask that the Catron family be remembered in our thoughts and prayers.” - Todd Wood, 2002 Sheriff Candidate



“This is a tragic day for Kentucky. This is a day to celebrate the heroes that have passed…Sam Catron was a great law enforcement officer. This is a great loss of a public servant, not just in this county, but in the whole state.” - Kentucky Governor Paul Patton



“Sam Catron was perhaps the best Kentucky sheriff of the last 30 years. A former Sheriff of the Year in Kentucky, Sam was considered one of the hardest-working law officers in the state, often staying on the road until the early morning hours answering calls from citizens and investigating crimes.” - Ray Stoess, former executive director of the Kentucky Sheriff’s Association



“Sam was the most respected man I’ve ever known. The loss to this county cannot be measured.” – Doug Baker, Shopville-Stab Fire Department Battalion Chief



“He’s going to be a fine man missed….not a lot of men will do what he did.”
– Brian Perkins, Pulaski County Deputy Coroner



“Pulaski County has lost a longtime friend.” - Jim Girdler, Pulaski County 5th District Magistrate



“Sam Catron loved police work. If Sam ever expected to die, he expected to die in uniform.” - Michael Muse, retired Somerset police lieutenant



“It takes a sorry person to have someone killed like a groundhog.” Bob Bell, Evangelist



“I asked him whey he never married. He would never get married as long as he was in law enforcement. He said he never wanted a woman to go through what his mother had gone through.” – Charlotte Davis



“Thugs and drug dealers are not mourning too much right now.” - James Justice, Pikeville Police Chief

“Sam stood for everything good in a person and I was so looking forward to my sons not only having a wonderful role model in their father but to be able to look towards Sam to see how a true man acts and reacts in every situation---he never ceased to amaze me in how much love and pure good he had inside him!” - Kim Miller, Cincinnati, Ohio

I knew Sam Catron as the Sheriff always on duty and he was the most dedicated sheriff any citizen could ask for.  I find myself driving around in Somerset and remembering the times I would turn a corner and see Sam in his car greeting me with a wave of his hand.  I will miss that.  As much as we will miss Sam, we have the assurance as Christians to see him again in eternity. -- George Corder

“I can think of a thousand kind words to say about Sam, but could never say enough to describe this wonderful man. 
Sam Catron was a true friend; with him you never had to look over your shoulder. He was always there to help a person when needed and a
person could always be sure that he would help in any and every way he possibly could.” - D. C. Trimble, Developer



“There is no doubt that the loss of Sam will be felt in our community for years to come. We will miss seeing his face around town and will remember it every time we see a brown and gold police car making the rounds. I truly believe Sam knows how much we are mourning his departure and I bet he would be both surprised and embarrassed by all the attention.” - Stuart Arnold, Publisher Somerset/Pulaski News Journal



“I will always be grateful to Sam Catron for his love for the Pulaski County Community and what he represented to its citizens. He helped my youngest son to overcome his fear of men in uniform and was always happy to bend down to his level to give him a warm hug and a smile. To all those who are suffering from this tragic loss of a true hero, my heart goes out to you.”
– Lisa Rowell, Somerset/Pulaski News Journal



“I can tell he (Sam Catron) was a very respected, very well known man. Just from watching the Somerset Wal-Mart employees, I knew what a great loss this has been to this community.” - Chris Norris, Assistant Manager Oneida, Tennessee Wal-Mart



“Everybody wants to do something to help. Everyone has their stories about Sam.” - Stacie Hoard, owner of Dynamic Design who made car stickers in the honor of Sam Catron



“Everybody thought of Sam Catron as a friend, and the memory of what he accomplished will live on. We are just searching for some way to honor him. The people of this community have to support and carry on what he did for this community.” - Karen Pointer

“I always felt so secure living here and knowing that Sam Catron was out there, watching over me. I was told from infancy on, that Sam Catron was there to protect me and I feel so sad without him. He was wonderful. I can’t believe he is gone; I can’t believe anyone would have wanted to take his life.” - Crystal Wilson

“While working on my master’s degree in criminology at Murray State University , Sam Catron very graciously allowed me to spend one evening riding with one of his deputies so I might witness the type calls his department assisted and investigated. I was highly impressed with all that I saw and learned of Mr. Catron’s expertise in the field of law enforcement and shall forever be grateful to this outstanding man for allowing me that opportunity. I truly miss knowing he is there and I know that Pulaski County has suffered a terrible loss.” - Misty Ann Camp Starks, Murray, Kentucky

“We (Sam and I) had a lot of good times and tough times together. During our work together we destroyed thousands of marijuana plants. Once we found 37patches of marijuana in one day. “ – Carl Meece, former Casey County Sheriff

RESOLUTION

An Honor and a Tribute to Sam Catron



WHEREAS; Pulaski County lost one of its sons, Sheriff Sam Catron, to an assassin’s bullet on Saturday, April 13, 2002, and;

WHEREAS; Pulaski County Sheriff, Sam Catron, was a dedicated professional law enforcement officer and a true public servant, a friend to all Pulaskians, loved and respected as an individual who’s memory will never be forgotten, and prematurely brought down in the prime of his life by a cowardly act, and;

WHEREAS; to immortalize Sheriff Catron’s memory and to honor him on behalf of the people of Pulaski County, now and for future generations;

BE IT NOW THEREFORE RESOLVED by the Fiscal Court of Pulaski County,

That Sheriff Sam Catron having answered the last call to his Unit Number 111; that his Unit Number 111 be 

FOREVER RETIRED, from all use by law enforcement and emergency personnel in Pulaski County, as an honor and a memorial to Sheriff Sam Catron.

“Unit number 111,” said County Judge-executive Darrell BeShears, “is retired forever.”

Kentucky Cries

HOWEVER,

Kentucky Has Some
Precious Memories

Sam and his beloved mother,
his #1 friend and supporter,
with their memories of Sam’s Dad
who was shot while on duty as
Police Chief for the City of Somerset.

Sam worked diligently and tirelessly
trying to rid Pulaski County of drugs!
Here he looks over a large amount that he
just confiscated!

Sam Catron was on duty 24/7-365
protecting our county
and searching for drugs.

Sam Catron, as always, working to make
PULASKI COUNTY SAFER
Installing a “Crime Watch” sign
at entrance to Windy Hills.

Two great men who have done
a thousand great things for Pulaski County
Congressman Hal Rogers & Sheriff Sam Catron

Whether it pertained to
law enforcement or civic matters
somehow, some way, Sam was
usually there.

Following the 1994 vote tabulation and celebration,
Crystal Wilson, wearing her “VOTE SAM CATRON” attire,
is very excited and happy since “her man”
had once again been elected as Pulaski County’s Sheriff!
Crystal, age 10, had campaigned for Sam Catron
and felt very honored
that her county had realized how important it was
to elect the right person for this important job!

From the youngest to the oldest,
Sam Catron loved us all!
And, everyone can be very sure
that we all loved Sam Catron, too!

THINKING OF YOU   

Three long, difficult months have passed without you here
And, hundreds and hundreds of people have shed many a tear,
Most of the Vote for Sam Catron signs have been taken down
Yet, conversations not mentioning your name still are not found.

With McWhorter’s abilities the county has somehow survived,
But, dear Sammy, we so desperately wish you were still alive.
The flowers from your funeral are withered and gone
And we, without you to protect us, feel so terribly alone.

We still ask the question as we continue to grieve and to cry,
Why in the world did those horrible men cause you to die.
We know that such a horrible thing should have never been
To you, of all people; the very kindest and greatest of men.

We try and we try to think of anything we can possibly do
To ease our terrible pain and our heartache from losing you.
But no matter how many words of memory each of us write
The hurt is there with us through each day and each night.

Unfortunately we all now realize you can never come back
To love us, to guard us, to protect us, and to keep us on track
To watch our children, befriend our loved ones, to keep us in line,
To offer that sweet, shy smile, and to always be so extra kind.

We never dreamed we could watch someone getting the “chair”
Yet when your murderers get justice, we would like to be there.
For having taken the life of such a wonderful person away,
There is not enough punishment to adequately make them pay.

It’s scary to know that such persons lived in our wonderful city
Not realizing how low they were has proved to be such a pity
Too late we have learned just how very evil they have been
Only after they have murdered you, the most wonderful of men.

Your death has surely served a purpose in lessons we’ve learned,
Drug dealers and those of low character should definitely be spurned,
No matter how many excuses and sad stories they manage to sing,
Keeping them away from decent people should be the main thing.

To keep our county safe and secure you did your very best
Instead of crying we wish we could be glad you are getting a rest.
Saying you gave all for your people is so terribly true,
Three months later, or forever, we shall be thinking of you!

THIS MEMORIAL IS

DEDICATED TO THE

MEMORY OF

SHERIFF SAM CATRON

HE WAS A DEDICATED PEACE OFFICER WHO LOVED AND

SERVED HIS COMMUNITY WITH GREAT BENEVOLENCE.

HE WAS STRUCK DOWN AND HIS LIFE WAS TORN FROM OUR

COMMUNITY AND OUR HEARTS  BY A SELFISH MURDERER

ON APRIL 13, 2002 IN SHOPVILLE, KY.

The memorial above was designed by
Rock of Ages Memorials in London.
The design was created to resemble
two bolts of lightening  representing the way
Pulaski County Sheriff Sam Catron was taken
from his family and his community on April 13, 2002. 

A committee has been formed to consider memorials to

 Sam Catron

and to other slain law enforcement officers of our county.

“If I have done any deed

worthy of remembrance, that

deed will be my monument.

If not, no monument can

   preserve my memory.”  

- Agesilaus II

OUR TEARS

Our tears, our tears, are falling down

As we look upon that cold, dark ground

Where you, dear Sam, were placed at rest

After serving us all with your very best

We see your mother so sad and yet so strong

What happened to you is so terribly wrong

We cry and cry by your grave where we kneel

Hoping that someday the time will heal

The few years you were here, we really treasured

The good you accomplished can never be measured

Oh Sammy, dear Sammy, we so hope you know

We all truly loved and respected you so.

Sam Catron’s death in April of 2002 left us with loving memories and
 with heartfelt compassion for his family. We knew that our thirty-year
 friendship with Sammy would live forever in our minds. We knew that our hearts
 would often ache when reminiscing over the many treasured hours spent with Sam, the dearest of friends. 

Sammy loved his county, Sammy loved his State, Sammy loved the State bird and
 had Gene Gray’s 72 Cardinal beautifully framed in his newly built home. His sweet
 family knowing that we had Gene Gray’s Great Horned Owl ’69 adorning our
 fireplace at the office, decided to give the Gene Gray Cardinal print to us! 

There aren’t enough words in the English language to adequately state our sincere
 thanks for this print. Knowing it was Sammy’s and knowing his family gave it to us
 thinking their dear Sam would want us to have it, brought many tears and great appreciation to our hearts.

Our deepest gratitude is sincerely expressed to Sam’s adoring mother, Jennie Rachel; to
 his beloved sisters Mellie and Nancy; to his inspiring brother Lewis; and to his dearly
 loved sister-in-law Carol. This print will be proudly displayed in our offices where we
 will view it daily with love and appreciation and with special memories that will be with us forever!

Call Sam….

Forty-eight years ago, A man and his wife
asked the Lord to bless their life.
Because they asked, it was done.
He gave them a healthy, beautiful son,
called SAM

A public servant,
like his father he became
But he wanted to be more
than just a sheriff by name
called SAM

He was a man of few words
But he walked straight and tall
No matter when or where he was needed
We all knew who to call
call SAM

When the task at hand
called for tough decisions to be made
and it required a strong man
with courage that wouldn’t fade
call SAM

He was there for all the people
Quiet and soft spoken
and he believed in equality for all
when the law was broken,
call SAM

Yesterday, the Angels above
asked God to send one they so loved
A man who was gentle, meek and mild
One they had known since he was a child

In less than a moment
They heard Him say,

“I called SAM,

He’s on his way”

                                                                        Sharon Wooten Stevenson

The “Vote for Jeff Morris” signs have all been burned
The murderers and their associates have all been spurned.

Millions and millions of tears have been cried
Since the day our wonderfully sweet Sammy died.

It’s so difficult for all of those who loved him to grasp
That one long horrible year since his death has passed.

The hundreds of car signs constantly seen are so true
Our Sammy, dear Sammy “WE WILL REMEMBER YOU”!

Ron Jones Realty certainly appreciates those who helped to make this
small tribute to our deeply loved and truly wonderful Sheriff Sam Catron. 

We sincerely thank our local papers, The News Journal and The Commonwealth Journal; graphic artists Sherre Stinson of Louisville, Janet Goodlett of Lawrenceburg,
and Marie Badeaux of New Orleans; and computer expert George Corder of Somerset.