Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Robert W. Legard, Loudoun County Sheriff 1964-1979, passes

A dear friend passed last evening. "Bob" Legard and I used to pass time chatting at the local welding shop. Bob was the Sheriff of Loudoun County from the time I was a toddler until the year I graduated High School. But I met him much later.

Bob worked from 1964 with Hankey's Radio in Frederick, MD to erect a tower on land secured by former Sheriff Roger Powell from Arthur Godfrey. The tower broadcasted two low-band channels, one for the Sheriff's Office and one for Loudoun Fire/Rescue. The tower still stands today but is no longer in use.

He was also the first member of the Loudoun force to graduate from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia. Legard graduated from the 86th session in October of 1970.

You will be missed, Bob. I feel I'm already being deprived of the tales of your exploits during your tenure. Thank you for your years of service to the citizens of Loudoun, and many of your friends join me in wishing you Godspeed to your next appointment.

Update: It has been pointed out to me that in his earlier years, Bob was a member of as many as 45 social groups ---from the local Masons to the American Legion....
An 11:00 service at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Lovettsville, VA has been scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 2010.

Update: I attended the funeral and services for Bob on Saturday. It was a beautiful service, and his tributes were many. He has a lovely family, and they filled the Church with even more stories of how Bob knew all of the folks that he represented, and watched after many of those folks needs, like a good shepherd, and keeper of the public that elected him. They simply do not make them like this, anymore, folks.
The world is just a bit worse for the loss of this great man.

2 comments:

Joel said...

Mr. Legard was an honorable man. He taught me to deer hunt & his son is my best friend. He helped me become an outdoorsman & gun enthusiast. He will surely be missed. Rest in peace Sheriff Legard. I will think about you always, especially when I sit on my deer stand every fall in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Joel Lemp

The Bulletproof Monk said...

Thank you for your tribute, Joel.
I am awaiting service and burial information at this moment. Should you get it first, I'd be awfully grateful if you could provide it here for other readers who will want to pay tribute to this great man.