SPEARMAN - R.L. McFarlin Jr., 65, died Wednesday, March 16, 2005, in Amarillo.Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Spearman High School Auditorium with the Rev. Ken Cole and John Scott officiating. Burial will be in Hansford Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

Mr. McFarlin was born Jan. 25, 1940, in Oakgrove, La. After graduating from high school in 1958 from Dumas, he joined the Army. He was with the 1st Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division and the 508th Military Police. He had lived in the area since 1966, moving from Dumas. He married Kaye Boyles on Dec. 22, 1961, in Dumas.

He later worked for the Dumas Police Department, Canadian Police Department and finally the Spearman Police Department before becoming a deputy sheriff for J.B. Cooke. In September 1973, he was appointed sheriff, becoming the youngest elected sheriff in Hansford County. He was sheriff of Hansford County from 1973 until 2004. He was the second-longest serving sheriff in the state of Texas.

He was president of the sheriff's Association of Texas in 1985 and 1986. Through the years he received many recognitions such as Who's Who in American Law Enforcement in 1976 and the Tom Tellepson Award in 1989, which is the highest award given to a Texas sheriff for outstanding contributions to the advancement of law enforcement. He received the Lifesaving Award in 1995, the Medal of Valor from the state of Texas and he also organized and formed the Panhandle Peace Officers Association, which he served a year as president.

He is actually an "Admiral in the Texas Navy" commissioned by George W. Bush. He was recently given the Texas Peacemaker Award at the 2004 Sheriffs Conference in Wichita Falls. There are many more awards and honrs R.L. Has received. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Spearman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, R.L. and Fannie McFarlin; a son, Gregory Scott McFarlin in 1972; and a brother, Mike McFarlin.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Kellye McFarlin Cator of Spearman and Robbie McFarlin Pulley and husband, David, of Amarillo; two sisters, Bobbie Hazzard of Baker, Okla., and Eloise West of Pasadena; seven grandsons, Casey Robert Cator, Dakota Mac Cator, Kyler Allen Cator, Colton Marshall Davis Cator, Gregory Zane Pulley, Kelton Lane Pulley and Parker Dane Pulley.

The family suggests memorials be to Sheriffs Association of Texas; the Greg McFarlin Outstanding Lawman of the Year Award; or a favorite charity.

Amarillo Globe-News, March 18, 2005