Wardens Tales: Sgt. Lewis Barts

This week I made a trip down to Raleigh to visit my friends back in the office.  It was a time to catch up on what is going on in their lives and hear the latest news.  It reinforced how much I miss those folks.

The trip also gave me an opportunity to look through some old issues of Wildlife in North Carolina, the agency’s national award winning magazine.  I read through copies back to 1947, but focused on one from 1968 in which Lewis Barts was highlighted as the Wildlife Protector of the Month.

Lewis was the officer in Cleveland County where I grew up.  I would like to say that I heard lots about him growing up or that I had an encounter with him while hunting of fishing that led to me becoming a wildlife officer.  But, none of that applies.  I hunted out the back door as a kid and only fished in farm ponds.  Later, as a teenager, I hunted in the surrounding counties and trout fished in the mountains.

Lewis Barts
Protector of the Month - Jan. 1968

But after working a few years as a wildlife officer and moving down to Rutherford County, I begin to hear stories about Lewis.  He referred to most people as “cowboy" as in, "Let me take a look at your license cowboy."  How, he ate breakfast most mornings at Don’s Pancake House in Shelby where future country singer Patty Loveless waited tables.  About his service as a sniper in the South Pacific with the Marine Corp during World War II (he was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in action).  Retired Captain Bill Townsend worked with Lewis during Bill’s early days as an officer.  Years later, Bill and I were working together along the Dan River and had a verbal confrontation with a loud mouthed, bully type.  As we left the guy fuming over a littering ticket, Bill said, “Lewis Barts would have pressed that guy into either fighting or backing down.  Lewis would’ve seen what he was made of.”  Bill later said that Lewis wasn’t scared of anyone or anything.

Thumbing through those old magazines, it was obvious that our agency and division have always had a variety of characters like Lewis – if nothing else you can tell by the angle of their hats.  But just being colorful doesn’t necessarily equate to having impact.

The recovery of our deer herds, turkey populations, bear numbers and a number of other species can be directly traced to men like Lewis diligently enforcing the game and fish laws.  Their impact on the resources are obvious as you look back over a span of time.

District 4 officers prior to a night deer hunting detail - late 1940s

Officer helping boy with binoculars - 1951

An impact that is more difficult to measure is that made by officers with the people in their communities.  Field officers encounter an extremely high number of people over the course of their work week.  Some are through compliance checks, arrests, or during educational programs.  Most are casual encounters at a local store, garage, courthouse or any other the other countless places where officers have only a brief interaction that is usually quickly forgotten by the officer.  Some of these “casual” contacts make a lasting impression on the public.

My only contact with Lewis came after I had applied to become an officer.  He called me and setup a time for us to meet at the Highway Patrol station in Shelby.  He passed along a packet of information that I needed to fill out to move me to the next round of the selection process.  He also gave me an overview of what to expect as I moved through the various stages.  Lewis retired a short time after that evening and I never saw him again.  He was succeeded by Chester Ragland who later became my sergeant.

I realize that that packet would have been delivered by someone else if Lewis wasn’t available.  So, it isn't accurate to say he is singlehandedly responsible for me being hired by the agency.  But, his willingness to take on this mundane task helped launch my career.  “Just another day” for him was a pivotal moment in my life. 

Devoted to Duty: The Price of Sacrifice

Master Sergeant John Collum, an officer with the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks was killed on 5/9/14.  He was run down by a motorist while investigating a report of a prowler.

The first thought of many on hearing this may be, “Why was he investigating a prowler?”  Those that would ask that question do not have an understanding of the role of a wildlife officer/game warden/conservation officer in the communities they serve. 

People come to count on wildlife officers to fill roles that extend beyond the enforcement of fish and wildlife laws.  Wildlife officers become baseball coaches, deacons in their church, scout leaders, reading buddies at the elementary school, and confidants to many who simply consider the officers as friends. So in a pinch, a neighbor may call their wildlife officer first for non-wildlife offenses – the neighbor knows who they can count on for a response.

In many small communities there are too few law enforcement officers.  It doesn't matter what uniform an officer wears - they all have to work together to make their community safe.  Deputy sheriffs, state troopers and city police officers know they can count on their wildlife officers to back them up when things get tight.  In turn, wildlife officers depend on these same officers for backup on those dark country roads.

I recall meeting Sergeant Collum in 2012 when he was selected as the officer of the year for the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.  He displayed all the traits we find most attractive and valuable in wildlife officers.  He displayed a quiet confidence that did not require boasting or attention.  His colonel described him as a role model and an example to other officers.  Most of all he was a servant to those in his community.

Sgt. Johnson

Trooper Rich

             

Tonight, the cohort at the NACLEC leadership academy watched the memorial service for Alaska State Troopers, Sgt. Scott Johnson and Trooper Gabe Rich, who were killed in the line of duty on 5/1/14.  There are two Alaska troopers in our class.  During that service, the words “sacred honor,” “duty,” “sacrifice,” "devoted" and "dedicated" were used many times to describe the slain troopers.  Those same words will be used again in a few days as we honor Sgt. Collum's sacrifice.

No law enforcement officer's family should have to wait until their funeral to hear those words used to describe their loved ones' lives.  The officers live out those descriptions everyday.  The thing is, they just consider that as what they do - nothing more and nothing less.  They don't do it for the pay or accolades; they do it because it is who they are.