Oconeean’s name added to national memorial

The name of a rural Oconee County policeman from the early 20th century has been added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, according to an announcement this morning by the Oconee Sheriff’s Office. It’s the name of William Henry Talley, a rural county policeman, who died in 1928 one day after trying to quell a church service disruption. Talley was 52 years old when he confronted two men in front of a Salem area church. He sustained a fractured skull when struck in the head by some type of stick weapon. One of the men responsible received a 10-year prison sentence; the other, life in prison. Officer Talley was survived by a wife and two children and was buried in the Whitmire Methodist Church Cemetery. He was part of the then county rural police department, forerunner of today’s Sheriff’s Office. Current Sheriff Mike Crenshaw submitted Talley’s case for consideration and it was determined that Talley was deserving of a place on the national memorial for officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.