Howard Clinton Massey - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 3/25/2012 USGenWeb NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. ************************************************************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************************************ Howard Clinton Massey - Madison Parish, Louisiana From Tallulah Madison Journal, December 4, 1959 Tallulah's Police Chief H. C. Massey Dies Suddenly At Home Last Friday Of Heart Attack Funeral services for Howard Clinton Massey, Tallulah's Chief of Police for 36 years, who died suddenly at his home about 10:15 p. m. last Friday night, were held at 2 p. m. at the First Methodist Church with the Rev. William F. Mayo officiating, being assisted by the Rev. A. B. Pierce, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Death was attributed to a heart attack. Burial followed in Silver Cross Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Home. Chief Massey was 72, having celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, November 25. Mr. Massey was born on November 25, 1887 at Rural Hills, Miss., in Winston County, and his education was equivalent to the present high school. He taught school one year. After teaching school, Mr. Massey was employed as record and time keeper for a logging operation and went to work for Chess Wymond Company in 1907, working from wheel barrow to special agent in charge of tight barrel staves and heading mill, making staves and heads for whiskey barrels until 1921; then working for the Tallulah Oil Mill until January 1923. In January of 1923, Mr. Massey was appointed as chief of police (marshal) to fill the unexpired term of Mr. A. E. Hymun, who was also a section foreman for the M. H. & L Railroad, now known as the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1926, Mr. Massey was elected to the head of the Police Department, which he held until his death. He had over two years to run on his present term of office. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a Mason and Shriner, member of the National Sheriff's Association, Louisiana Sheriff's Association, Executive Committeeman of Louisiana Peace Officers Association, Executive Committeeman, Municipal Peace officers Association, Third Vice President, Louisiana Chief of Police Association, member of International Chief of Police Association, International Association for Identification, Louisiana Division of Association for Identification and past President, and a member of the Advisory Board to LSU Police Training. In 1955 he was vice president for Louisiana International Association for Identification; in September, 1957, was president of the Chief of Police Association and was a charter member of the Madison Parish Chamber of Commerce. Under Chief Massey's leadership, Tallulah's Police Department was the first police department in Northeast Louisiana to file fingerprints by classification. He was one of the most respected law enforcement officers in Louisiana, and will he missed not only by his immediate family, but by others of the community and state. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Dora Massey; four sons, J. B. Massey, Cicero, Ill., Howard Massey, Seguin, Texas, and Herbert and Fred Massey, both of Tallulah; two brothers, Ancil and Sam Massey of Memphis, Tenn.; one sister, Mrs. Theodore Ray of Liberty, Miss.; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Pallbearers were members of the Tallulah Police Department, Cliff Erwin, Jimmy Rogan, Carl Griffin, Clayton Cox, Jimmy Osborne, Dick Byrd, Archie Aultman and Harold Ogden.