100 Club banquet honors officers
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Those members of the community willing to put their lives on the line to protect others will be recognized for their effort at this year's Wharton County 100 Club's 27th Annual Awards Banquet for law enforcement officers.

The banquet will be held Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Wharton Civic Center. It will start with a social hour at 6 p.m. The meal will be served at 7 p.m. and followed by special guest speaker Major Ted Tolle, Texas Game Warden and Law Enforcement Regional Director.

A former U.S. Marine Major, Tolle, 59, started his career as a game warden in 1990 and currently serves as the Law Enforcement Region 4 Director. That region includes Wharton County.

Tolle currently supervises approximately 90 personnel - including 60 game wardens and 30 non-commissioned personnel. He is also an adjunct professor for Central Texas College in Killeen, teaching online courses in criminal justice.

Club board member Billie Jones said this is a particularly significant year for the organization due to the death of game warden Justin Hurst. Hurst was the first Wharton County law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty since the local chapter of the national organization was founded in the 1970s.

"We've always thought we had a $100,000 life insurance policy on all of the law enforcement officers in the county," Jones explained. "But with the death of Justin, we learned game wardens weren't covered by it. The club was able to give his family the $100,000 and have since re-written our by-laws to make sure we cover everyone in law enforcement at the local, county and state level."

Among the highlights of the banquet is the presentation of the annual awards, Jones said.

"An officer of the year is chosen by their peers by each of the local agencies, the El Campo and Wharton Police Departments, Sheriff's Office and DPS Highway Patrol," she said.

"And each department also recognizes a citizen who has contributed to the local law enforcement effort. There are so many deserving people that I'm just glad they make the selections because I don't think I could."

The banquet is limited to members of the club with all law enforcement officers and a guest invited.

"You have to be a member to attend, but you can join at the door," Jones said.

Club dues are $100 per year for individual or family memberships and $150 for a business membership. Lifetime memberships are also available at $1,000 for individuals and $1,500 for businesses.

The dues go to support the efforts and projects of the club. In addition to maintaining the insurance policies, the club also sponsors scholarships for students interested in a career in law enforcement and purchases needed equipment for the various agencies.

"One of our most recent purchases was video cameras for the game warden vehicles," Jones said. "The video taken with that same equipment the night of Justin's shooting should play an important part in the upcoming trial."

In addition to the annual awards banquet, membership in the group also includes an annual membership banquet that is held in January, Jones said.