About Us

Willacy County was created in 1911 from Cameron and Hidalgo counties, and was named for John G. Willacy, member of the Texas legislature.  Sarita was the county seat.  In 1921, the county was re-created and re-organized and Sarita became the county seat of the new county of Kennedy and Raymondville, which was formerly in Cameron county, became the new county seat of Willacy county.  There have been ten men who have served as sheriff during the history of the county with two of them serving twice.  This i one of the few counties where all the sheriffs have been elected with none being appointed.

 

John T. Love was elected the first sheriff on August 12, 1911 and served until November 03, 1914.

 

J.C. Atkins was elected on November 03,1914; re-elected November 07,1916 and served until November 05, 1918.

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John H. Cardway was elected on November 05, 1918; re-elected November 02, 1920 and served until August 13, 1921 when the county was re-organized.

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Joseph Wallace "Joe" Turner was elected the first sheriff after the county was reorganized on August 13, 1921; re-elected November 07, 1922 and served until January 01, 1925.

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R.H. Teller was elected on November 04, 1924 and served until January 01, 1927.

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Luther D. Snow was elected on November 04, 1926; re-elected November 06, 1928 and served until January 01, 1931. 

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Howard T. Craig was elected on November 04, 1930; re-elected November 08, 1932; November 06, 1934; November 03, 1936 and served until January 01, 1939.

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Joseph Wallace "Joe" Turner was elected a second time on November 08, 1938 and served until January 01, 1941.

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Luther D. Snow was elected a second time on November 05, 1940; and was re-elected to sheriff from there on until leaving office on January 01, 1973.  Sheriff Snow served a total of thirty-six years, with thirty-two of it consecutive, which is the longest in the history of Willacy County.  He is one of a few sheriffs in TExas history to have served over thirty  years as sheriff. 

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Oscar Correa was elected on November 07, 1972; re-elected November 02, 1976 and served until January 01, 1981. 

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Raul Arevalo was elected on November 04, 1980 and served until January 01, 1984.

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Larry G. Spence took office on January 01, 1985; re-elected every four years until 2020. On January 01, 2020 Sheriff Spence begun his 36th and final year as sheriff before retiring. 

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Jose Salazar began his first term as sheriff of Willacy County on January 01, 2021 and is the current sheriff for the good people of Willacy County.