A seasoned law enforcement officer retires Friday

Veteran Oconee sheriff’s deputy Ray Thomas retires Friday, with the congratulations of his boss, Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  Thomas leaves with a distinction in the annals of the sheriff’s office that appears unparalleled.  “To my knowledge”, Crenshaw says, “Ray and Alvin (Ray’s late father) are the only-father-son to work at the same time for three Sheriffs.  Both worked for Sheriff Green, Holcombe, and Singleton at the same time.”  Ray Thomas had some breaks in his tenure, one of which found him as Walhalla Police Chief for eight months.  About Ray Thomas, Crenshaw said, “I appreciate Ray’s services to the law enforcement profession.  He always had a servant heart and strived to help others.”