Gilchrist County was created by the Florida legislature in 1925 after being carved out from the western side of Alachua County, making it the youngest county in Florida. It was almost named Melon County because watermelons were one of the cash crops for exporting.

This notion was set aside after the death of Albert W. Gilchrist, Florida’s 20th governor. Governor Gilchrist had a long and distinguished political career. Having previously represented Desoto County in the Florida House of Representatives in 1893-1897, he returned and became the Speaker of the House in 1905. He was elected governor in 1909. On May 15, 1926, he died in a New York City hospital. He is buried at Indian Springs Cemetery in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Governor Albert Gilchrist

After hearing that the former governor was dying, the Florida legislature introduced and passed a bill naming Gilchrist County after him. Additionally, the bridge on U.S. 41 over the Peace River from Punta Gorda to Port Charlotte is named after him.

Bordered by four counties—Lafayette, Dixie, Levy, and Alachua—Gilchrist County is rich with natural attractions and recreational opportunities. It boasts the Nature Coast State Trail, a 32-mile paved bicycle and walking trail, along with numerous state parks and Ginnie Springs, a popular scuba diving spot.

Despite being Florida’s youngest county, not many sheriffs have presided over law enforcement.

Sheriff A. D. Fields: 1925-1931	Sheriff Clyde Williams: 1956-1967
Sheriff D. W. Deen, Sr: 1931-1933	Sheriff Charlie Parrish: 1967-1975
Sheriff R.E. Davis: 1933-1941	Sheriff Roy J. Rodgers: 1977-1988
Sheriff D. W. Deen, Jr: 1941	Sheriff Jim Floyd: 1989-1996
Sheriff D. H. Browning, Sr: 1941-1953	Sheriff David Turner: 1996-2008
Sheriff R. E. Davis, Jr: 1953-1956	Sheriff Daniel Slaughter: 2009-2012
Sheriff Eli Mark Read: 1956	Sheriff Bobby Schultz: 2013- current

Sheriff Dozier Browning

Growing Pains

On or about January 7, 1926, Governor John W. Martin appointed A.D. Fields of Trenton as sheriff of the newly created Gilchrist County. Mr. D. H. Browning had previously been chosen for the appointment but had advised the governor that he could not serve.

On or about November 6, 1931, Governor Doyle E. Carlton suspended Sheriff Fields. Maybe it was politics, or he didn’t understand the role of the sheriff. Either way, the suspension order stated that Fields had been found guilty of misfeasance, malfeasance, incompetency and neglect of duty.

On September 24, 1955, Sheriff R. E. Davis, Jr. was severely beaten when he was attacked in Levy County. He had been in Chiefland to meet with Chiefland Police Officer J.C. Corbin when he was struck across the head, knocked to the ground and beaten around 7:30 p.m. Levy County Deputy William Hardy saw the struggle and took the perpetrator, Lonnie Wilkerson, into custody. Sheriff Davis had been armed but stated that he didn’t want to shoot the assailant. The investigation revealed that Wilkerson had been committed to the state mental hospital by Davis at an earlier date.

Sheriff Jim Floyd

On December 17, 1956, Governor Leroy Collins appointed Deputy Sheriff Clyde Williams of Trenton as sheriff following the death of Sheriff Read. In 1967, when Claude Kirk became governor, he declared a “war on crime” and appointed the Wackenhut International Private Detective Agency to investigate corruption. Several Florida sheriffs were investigated. During the investigation, Sheriff Williams resigned from office. Similar investigations led to the creation of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Ambush Murders of Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Members

Sheriff Eli Mark Read, a Trenton native, was shot and killed on December 9, 1956. He had been shot with a shotgun by Harley Conner, age 53. There had been a disturbance at Conner’s residence resulting in relatives calling the sheriff and asking him to go to Conner’s house to disarm him. When the sheriff drove into the yard of the rural home and exited the vehicle he was shot receiving eight buckshot pellets. He got back into his car, radioed to his office that he had been shot and managed to drive about 100 yards before driving into a tree. Amos Philman, a neighbor, found the wounded sheriff. He was taken to Gainesville in an ambulance. Two Florida Highway Patrol Troopers, W. R. Stringfield and Mark Goodman, took Conner into custody at the home of his son. Levy County Sheriff James W. Turner conducted the homicide investigation.

On April 19, 2018, two Gilchrist County deputies were ambushed and killed as they were having lunch in a restaurant. Sergeant Noel Ramirez, age 29, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, age 25, died instantly. These deaths rocked the close-knit community. The gunman was later identified as John Hubert Highnote of Bell, Florida. He was found dead in his Jeep outside of the restaurant from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Gathering at Gilchrist

The Gathering at Gilchrist was the vision of Sheriff Bobby Schultz and State Representative Chuck Clemons in 2021. This is a social event which is held annually in Gilchrist County to honor law enforcement professionals, agriculture and their supporting partners. Attendees include federal, state and local elected officials as well as community leaders and business owners that support the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office as well as sheriffs’ offices across the state.

The Gathering is a relaxed event which includes dinner and fellowship. The event is held at the Gilchrist County Agriculture Complex and accommodates about 700 guests annually.

Today and the Future

Sheriff Bobby Schultz

“Gilchrist County has been and continues to make significant contributions to the state through its robust agricultural industry and its beautiful and scenic natural resources,” said Sheriff Bobby Schultz.

From its inception in 1925 as “Melon County” until today, Gilchrist County has been a treasure and blessing for those living and here or looking to move to a slower place.

Author

David Brand, FSA Law Enforcement Coordinator