A farewell to retirement

In 38 and a half years in law enforcement, James Singleton accumulated awards and earned distinction. But the retired Oconee Sheriff reached the apex of his career last night when, during a retirement dinner, he was award the Order of the Palmetto. State Senator Thomas Alexander read a letter from Governor Nikki Haley announcing Singleton as the recipient of the state’s highest honor for an individual. Singleton is best known as 20-year Oconee County Sheriff, whose five terms in office are a modern-day record. Former colleagues, friends, and family turned out for a 23-dollar-a-plate dinner last night to fete Singleton and, as it turned out, to learn things about him that long-time friends and acquaintances did not know. After the formal part of the program concluded, emcee Neil Brown passed the microphone to anyone wishing to speak. One of those, former Singleton deputy, Scott Arnold, said, “We grew up watching this man….He’s just like a dad to us.”