• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sandhenge Publications

Jim Potter, Author

  • About the Author
  • Author Blog
    • Sign Up for Jim’s Posts
  • Podcast
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact the Author
  • Check Book Reviews
  • Sign Up to Receive Blog Posts
  • All Books
  • Listen to the Blog Podcast

Sheriffs of Reno County: Roy Sheppard

March 3, 2021 by Jim Potter 12 Comments

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet

(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.)

 

· Roy Sheppard (1897-1977)

Sheriff 1956-1959

·

Reno County Sheriff Roy Sheppard. Author’s collection

It must be Monday, because we’re having ham and beans today, thinks Fannie Elizabeth Masters Sheppard, jail matron and cook at the Reno County jail on the fifth floor of the courthouse.

It’s 0750 hours, December 29, 1958, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Fannie, 61, wife of Sheriff Roy Sheppard, also 61, is working with a trustee in the county jail’s kitchen.

There’s still the aroma of bacon in the air from breakfast as Mrs. Sheriff washes beans to be served later with ham. Her jail trustee is washing dishes.

Jailer Charles Grubbs and trustee Cleo Day are putting mop buckets into the bull pen, a bar-enclosed open area where prisoners mingle.

Suddenly, two prisoners, John Beason, 20, and Ralph England, 21, grab Day. There’s a struggle.

*

Reno County court house, Hutchinson, KS, at 1st Ave. & Adams Street. The entire 5th floor housed the county jail. Postcard by E. C. Kropp Co. Author’s collection

Grubbs, standing in the doorway, immediately starts to shut the steel bull pen door, but a prisoner jams a mop handle into the doorway, preventing its closure.

Prisoners Ron Smith, 21, Tom Colvin, 18, and Tom Gimpel, 20, rush towards the door as Grubbs runs down the hallway. Unable to throw the jail keys between the bars, outside the locked perimeter, Grubbs is jumped and attacked with a crude blackjack made from a sock with a hard bar of soap inside. After the inmates secure the jail keys, Grubbs is held by three prisoners, while the other two steal cash and grab their coats.

*

Fannie attempts to make a phone call but is stopped by a prisoner. She screams. As the inmates discuss locking her in the bullpen, the kitchen trustee grabs a butcher knife, takes a defensive stance, and declares: “Nobody’s hurting Mrs. Sheppard.”

*

Political ad in the Hutchinson News Herald, August 6, 1956

Fannie thinks of Tommy, her youngest child, but realizes he’s safe.

Then memories of Roy flash in her brain. As children, she and Roy start their education together at the same school, beginning in the first grade near Jacksonville, Illinois.

As a young adult, Fannie is living in Augusta, Kansas, teaching school, when Roy visits from Hutchinson and asks for her hand in marriage, tying the knot in 1923.

Roy joins his father, Ira, in the dairy farming business. Fannie and Roy begin their marriage owning a dozen chickens and two cows.

Fannie and Roy are content being dairy farmers when their rural life is interrupted in 1956. He’s picked by the Republican Central Committee to succeed Al Severson, who was forced to resign. The committee wants a man above reproach, with good moral fiber.

We had no intention of living off the farm, certainly no plan to live in the county jail, recalled Fannie, but Roy couldn’t find anyone to take over as jailer or a woman to be the jail matron.

Fannie’s memories collide with the reality of the moment. A jail escape is in progress, but she’s calm. Roy’s not present to protect her, but the firm voice of the armed trustee echoes in her head, “Nobody’s hurting Mrs. Sheppard.”

If Roy was here, the prisoners would be in real trouble, considers Fannie. Once Roy takes hold of someone, they never escape his powerful, bear-like grip. His commanding strength is a result of milking cows for 33 years.

*

Suddenly, the prisoners are gone, having used the jail keys to take a stairway down towards the fourth floor’s city courtroom.

Charles Grubbs, with one hand to his head, asks Fannie, “Are you okay, Mrs. Sheppard?”

“I’m fine,” replies Fannie, “just a little shook up. How are you?”

*

On the fourth floor, the escaping prisoners commandeer the elevator from Ed Donley, 77, pushing him to the rear.

On the first floor, all five men flee from the courthouse, crossing the street towards a used car lot, shivering from the cold wind, planning to get as far away from Hutchinson as humanly possible.

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

Share this blog post

Email
Share
Tweet

Related

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    Trustee hero!
    Genius use of flashbacks to tell story.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thanks, Alex.

      Reply
  2. Phil McDaniels says

    And Then…. And Then……! Talk about leaving us dangling.
    Nice job Jim

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Thanks, Phil.

      Reply
  3. Marilyn Bolton says

    Ah–suspenseful! I’m going to try to not Google to see what happened–and wait for the next installment.
    I am curious as to who the Sheriff was when you began your career in Reno County.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Marilyn, thanks. I’ll tell you what happened because the next blog covers the next sheriff–Calvin Sheppard–Roy’s son.
      The five escaped prisoners were all captured within two weeks.
      I was hired in 1981 when Jim Fountain was sheriff. During my job interview the detective captain (I learned later) told the rest of the group that if we hired Potter he’d be gone within 6 months because he was overqualified. (I had a MA.) He was wrong. I stayed for 33 years.
      When did Larry enter the bar?

      Reply
  4. Jim says

    Jim,
    I now find I am related to three Sheriffs of Reno county, Victor Frazey , Leroy Sheppard and his son Calvin. You may be interested in the letter his grandmother, Amanda (Fry) Dikeman sent May 15. 1859 from Ft Laramie to her sister Ann Maria(Fry) Sheppard [my great great grandmother]. 59ers Edward and Amanda started west with daughters Harriet and Alice . But before they reached the Cherry Creek turn off they had met 1000’s returning from Pikes Peak so they decided to cross the South Platte and continue on to California. After Alice died in California the family started back to Illinois via clipper ship to the Isthmus of Panama where they crossed to the Atlantic by buggy and foot. Then sailed north to the US and were before the birth of William 20 Dec. 1860 in St. Clair County, Illinois.
    =O

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Very interesting. How are the Sheppards & Frazeys related?

      Reply
      • Jim says

        Via the daughters of Andrew Jackson Fry (18 Aug 1826 Shelby, KY – 30 May, 1904 Audrain, Missouri) and first wife Emily Easley : Amanda and Ann Maria Fry.
        I am Leroy’s third cousin, twice removed and Victor’s second cousin, twice removed.
        The Sheppard line from Ann Maria Fry’s husband, John Oak Vanburen Sheppard son of Stephen, to his brother Thornton , to his son William, to his son Ira , to his son Leroy and his son Calvin. All but Leroy and Calvin are linked in Find a Grave . My email to you bounced.
        =O

        Reply
        • Jim Potter says

          Amazing!

          Reply
  5. Sonja Itson says

    Thanks for the story. I know about some of these people. My Great Uncle was Victor Frazey and 2nd great grandmother was Amanda Fry Dikeman. I have a transcript of Amanda’s letter that my grandmother did over 80 years ago but have never found the original. While I was told the same story about Alice, I did find an Illinois death record for Alice shortly after the Dikeman family returned from CA . I have published a couple of stories for the Fry Family Association about the Frazey family and enjoying sharing. I am back working on my maternal line and just came across this site. Hi all my cousins.

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      Hello Sonja, nice to meet you. Thank you for sharing your Frazey family connection. I would sure enjoy reading your stories you published for the Fry Family Association. Can I find them online to read? Thanks, Jim

      Reply

Comment Form: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Jim Potter, Author

author

Recent Posts

  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Designer’s Proof
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Sequel
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Promotion
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Collaboration
  • Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Creative and Colorful Illustrations

Post Archives

Testimonials

Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a… Read more “Larry Kruckman, anthropologist”

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental… Read more “Morgan Penner”

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centers on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to… Read more “Sean McArdle, Winchester, England”

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller… Read more “Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist”

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters… Read more “John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement”

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

Podcast Listening Options

Footer

Follow Jim on Facebook

Follow Jim on Facebook

Interviews with Jim Potter

Video interview with James Lowe outside Bookends Bookstore July 21, 2022

Print interview with author Bill Bush September 1, 2022

Print interview with author Cheryl Unruh February 28, 2019

Hutchinson Magazine Article

Copyright © 2023 Sandhenge Publications · Website by Rosemary Miller