㰀琀搀 瘀䄀氀椀最渀㴀∀琀漀瀀∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀氀攀昀琀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㐀㠀 ∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀∀㸀
January 30, 2000
㰀栀㌀㸀匀洀愀氀氀 圀攀猀琀 吀攀砀愀猀 琀漀眀渀 瀀爀漀搀甀挀攀搀 猀琀愀琀攀ᤀ猠 昀椀爀猀琀 昀攀洀愀氀攀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀㰀⼀栀㌀㸀
By Zane Toombs
匀瀀攀挀椀愀氀 琀漀 琀栀攀 伀搀攀猀猀愀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀渀㰀⼀攀洀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
㰀椀洀最 愀氀琀㴀∀ ㌀ 搀攀眀攀攀猀⸀樀瀀最 ⠀㌀㘀㜀㌀ 戀礀琀攀猀⤀∀ 猀爀挀㴀∀椀洀愀最攀猀⼀爀攀搀戀氀甀昀昀⼀ ㌀ 搀攀眀攀攀猀⸀樀瀀最∀ 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀爀椀最栀琀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀ ∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㜀㠀∀㸀䴀䔀一吀伀一䔀
— Long before fears of Y2K started, residents in the tiny West 吀攀砀愀猀 栀愀洀氀攀琀 漀昀 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀 愀氀爀攀愀搀礀 眀攀爀攀 猀琀漀爀椀渀最 搀爀椀渀欀椀渀最 眀愀琀攀爀 愀氀漀渀最
with spare food and other essentials of life as a hedge against 猀漀洀攀 甀渀攀砀瀀攀挀琀攀搀 挀爀椀猀椀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
A trip to the ‘neighborhood’ grocer or pharmacist ‘down the 猀琀爀攀攀琀ᤀ†椀渀瘀漀氀瘀攀猀 搀爀椀瘀椀渀最 ㌀ 洀椀氀攀猀 琀漀 䬀攀爀洀椀琀 漀爀 倀攀挀漀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Mentone (population 15) happens to be the county seat of Loving 䌀漀甀渀琀礀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 椀渀 爀漀甀渀搀 渀甀洀戀攀爀猀 洀愀礀 爀攀愀挀栀 㜀 漀挀挀甀瀀愀渀琀猀⸀ 吀栀椀猀
assures a distinction of being the most sparsely populated county 椀渀 吀攀砀愀猀⸀ 䄀 洀漀琀漀爀椀猀琀 洀愀椀渀琀愀椀渀椀渀最 愀 猀琀攀愀搀礀 ㌀ ⴀ洀瀀栀 瀀愀挀攀 戀攀琀眀攀攀渀 挀椀琀礀
limit boundary signs can be across these limits in about one 洀椀渀甀琀攀⸀ 伀渀氀礀 愀 昀攀眀 愀洀攀渀椀琀椀攀猀 漀昀 攀瘀攀爀礀搀愀礀 氀椀昀攀 猀琀椀氀氀 愀爀攀 椀渀 瀀氀愀挀攀Ⰰ
notably the town’s only cafe, which faces a gas station across the 爀漀愀搀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Water, or the lack thereof, always has presented this locale 眀椀琀栀 愀 洀愀樀漀爀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀⸀ 匀椀洀瀀氀礀 猀琀愀琀攀搀Ⰰ 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀 琀漀眀渀 眀愀琀攀爀 椀猀 眀攀琀Ⰰ
which is about the best to be said for a liquid that normally is 渀漀琀 挀漀渀猀椀搀攀爀攀搀 昀漀爀 搀爀椀渀欀椀渀最 瀀甀爀瀀漀猀攀猀⸀ 䄀挀琀甀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 琀栀椀猀 瀀爀攀挀椀漀甀猀
resource is abundant in underlying water deposits that occur 琀栀爀漀甀最栀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 愀爀攀愀Ⰰ 椀渀挀氀甀搀椀渀最 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀⸀ 唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 洀甀挀栀 漀昀 椀琀
is unsuited for drinking. There is no city water, because the 挀漀洀洀甀渀椀琀礀 渀攀瘀攀爀 栀愀猀 戀攀攀渀 椀渀挀漀爀瀀漀爀愀琀攀搀⸀ 䠀愀甀氀椀渀最 搀爀椀渀欀椀渀最 眀愀琀攀爀 椀猀 愀
way of life here.
㰀瀀㸀䤀渀 氀愀琀攀爀 礀攀愀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀 漀椀氀ⴀ搀爀椀氀氀椀渀最 爀椀最 搀椀猀挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 愀 氀愀爀最攀
reservoir of underground water of better quality than found 戀攀渀攀愀琀栀 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀⸀ 䤀渀 琀栀攀 氀愀琀攀 㤀㠀 猀Ⰰ 愀爀爀愀渀最攀洀攀渀琀猀 眀攀爀攀 洀愀搀攀 戀礀 琀栀攀
county to pump water from this source to a storage tank located a 猀栀漀爀琀 搀椀猀琀愀渀挀攀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀爀琀栀漀甀猀攀⸀ 䐀椀猀琀爀椀戀甀琀椀漀渀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀椀猀 瀀漀椀渀琀
is left to the users.
㰀瀀㸀一漀 猀甀爀瀀爀椀猀攀 琀栀愀琀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀椀猀 戀愀挀欀搀爀漀瀀 漀昀 爀甀最最攀搀Ⰰ 猀攀氀昀ⴀ爀攀氀椀愀渀琀
individualism came the first elected female sheriff in Texas. Edna 刀攀攀搀 䌀氀愀琀漀渀 䐀攀眀攀攀猀 愀琀 愀最攀 ㈀㐀 愀猀猀甀洀攀搀 琀栀攀 爀漀氀攀 漀昀 氀愀眀 攀渀昀漀爀挀攀爀 愀渀搀
tax assessor-collector in a field that previously had belonged to 洀愀氀攀猀 漀渀氀礀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Dewees was born Sept. 5, 1921, in Gloster, Miss., moving to 吀攀砀愀猀 愀琀 愀最攀 漀渀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 氀愀琀攀爀 最爀愀搀甀愀琀攀搀 昀爀漀洀 䈀爀攀挀欀攀渀爀椀搀最攀 䠀椀最栀
School in Stephens County. As a precursor of things to come, she 猀攀爀瘀攀搀 愀猀 搀攀瀀甀琀礀 搀椀猀琀爀椀挀琀 挀氀攀爀欀 椀渀 琀栀愀琀 挀漀甀渀琀礀⸀ 䄀 瘀愀爀椀攀搀 眀漀爀欀椀渀最
background followed, including lathe operator in a Fort Worth 愀椀爀挀爀愀昀琀ⴀ洀愀渀甀昀愀挀琀甀爀椀渀最 瀀氀愀渀琀 愀渀搀 猀琀攀渀漀最爀愀瀀栀攀爀ⴀ戀漀漀欀欀攀攀瀀攀爀 椀渀 琀栀攀
Special Service Office at Pecos Army Air Field before she moved to 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
In 1944, Dewees, now 78, took a position as deputy in the tax 漀昀昀椀挀攀 甀渀搀攀爀 椀渀挀甀洀戀攀渀琀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀 䠀愀爀搀椀渀 刀漀猀猀Ⰰ 眀栀漀 爀攀猀椀最渀攀搀 愀 猀栀漀爀琀
time later for health purposes, and recommended that Dewees be 愀瀀瀀漀椀渀琀攀搀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀 愀渀搀 琀愀砀 愀猀猀攀猀猀漀爀ⴀ挀漀氀氀攀挀琀漀爀⸀ 䤀渀 䨀愀渀甀愀爀礀 㤀㐀㔀Ⰰ 琀栀攀
commissioners court honored this request.
㰀瀀㸀吀栀攀 渀攀砀琀 攀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 昀漀甀渀搀 栀攀爀 爀甀渀渀椀渀最 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 瀀漀猀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 猀栀攀
easily won in the July primaries, becoming the first elected 昀攀洀愀氀攀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀 椀渀 吀攀砀愀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Dewees, who remained sheriff through 1947, said her job was ☀焀甀漀琀㬀椀渀琀攀爀攀猀琀椀渀最☀焀甀漀琀㬀 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 琀栀攀爀攀 眀攀爀攀 洀漀爀攀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 椀渀 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀 琀栀攀渀Ⰰ
including major oil companies, many of which provided housing for 攀洀瀀氀漀礀攀攀猀 椀渀 挀愀洀瀀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
"It was much harder work because you went to work early in the 洀漀爀渀椀渀最 愀渀搀 猀琀愀礀攀搀 氀愀琀攀 愀渀搀 眀漀爀欀攀搀 猀椀砀 搀愀礀猀 愀 眀攀攀欀Ⰰ☀焀甀漀琀㬀 猀栀攀 猀愀椀搀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Dewees said during here tenure as sheriff that the community 眀愀猀 昀漀挀甀猀攀搀 漀渀 猀挀栀漀漀氀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀漀挀椀愀氀 挀攀渀琀攀爀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 栀攀氀搀 搀愀渀挀攀猀Ⰰ
birthday parties and potluck suppers. Record-keeping was harder 戀攀挀愀甀猀攀 挀愀氀挀甀氀愀琀漀爀猀 眀攀爀攀 挀甀洀戀攀爀猀漀洀攀 愀渀搀 猀氀漀眀 愀渀搀 挀愀爀戀漀渀 瀀愀瀀攀爀 眀愀猀
used to prepare county records. The courthouse had the only phone 椀渀 琀栀攀 挀漀甀渀琀礀 戀甀琀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 栀愀瘀攀 愀椀爀 挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀椀渀最⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Dewees said only two arrests were made during her term — one 昀漀爀 愀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 愀氀琀攀爀挀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 吀栀椀猀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀 渀攀瘀攀爀 眀漀爀攀 猀椀搀攀愀爀洀猀 漀爀
other defensive aids. "I knew everyone," she said.
㰀瀀㸀䤀渀 㤀㘀 Ⰰ 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 猀栀攀爀椀昀昀ᤀ猠 搀攀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀 瀀爀漀洀瀀琀攀搀 愀 爀攀琀甀爀渀
to duty as a deputy — an urgency had developed in the tax office 爀攀焀甀椀爀椀渀最 栀攀爀 攀砀瀀攀爀琀椀猀攀Ⰰ 渀愀洀攀氀礀 瀀爀攀瀀愀爀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀愀砀 爀漀氀氀猀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀
she completed that task, Dewees left public service, but returned 椀渀 㤀㘀㔀 愀猀 挀漀甀渀琀礀ⴀ搀椀猀琀爀椀挀琀 挀氀攀爀欀Ⰰ 愀 瀀漀猀椀琀椀漀渀 猀栀攀 栀攀氀搀 甀渀琀椀氀
1986.Today, Dewees is far from being idle. She keeps close contact 眀椀琀栀 栀攀爀 昀椀瘀攀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀⸀ 䠀攀爀 搀愀甀最栀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䄀渀渀 䈀氀愀椀爀Ⰰ 椀猀 䰀漀瘀椀渀最 䌀漀甀渀琀礀
treasurer. Dewees looks after her beloved cattle and reads. Her 栀椀氀氀猀椀搀攀 爀愀渀挀栀 栀漀洀攀 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀猀 猀眀攀攀瀀椀渀最 瘀椀攀眀猀 漀昀 爀甀最最攀搀 琀攀爀爀愀椀渀Ⰰ
particularly mountains in the background. 㰀瀀㸀匀甀渀猀攀琀猀 愀爀攀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 椀渀 最氀漀眀椀渀最 琀攀爀洀猀Ⰰ 洀愀琀挀栀攀搀 漀渀氀礀 戀礀 挀漀氀漀爀猀
of a setting sun dipping behind Guadalupe Peak, some 70 miles 愀眀愀礀⸀ 䐀攀眀攀攀猀 栀愀猀 氀攀搀 愀 昀甀氀氀 氀椀昀攀 椀渀 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀 愀渀搀 瀀爀攀昀攀爀猀 椀琀 琀漀 愀渀礀
other locale. 㰀瀀㸀☀焀甀漀琀㬀圀栀攀渀 礀漀甀 昀椀爀猀琀 挀漀洀攀 栀攀爀攀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 栀愀瘀攀 攀渀漀甀最栀
money really to move, and then later after you make friends, and 愀挀挀甀洀甀氀愀琀攀 愀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 戀椀琀Ⰰ 礀漀甀 搀漀渀ᤀ琠 眀愀渀琀 琀漀 最漀 漀昀昀 愀渀搀 氀攀愀瘀攀 椀琀⸀☀焀甀漀琀㬀㰀⼀瀀㸀
That seems to be the prevailing mood of those who live in 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀⸀ 䈀攀瘀攀爀氀礀 䠀愀渀猀漀渀Ⰰ 䰀漀瘀椀渀最 䌀漀甀渀琀礀 搀椀猀琀爀椀挀琀ⴀ挀漀甀渀琀礀 挀氀攀爀欀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀
she has lived in Houston, Dallas and El Paso but prefers living in 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀⸀ 䠀愀渀猀漀渀Ⰰ 㔀㈀Ⰰ 眀愀猀 戀漀爀渀 椀渀 倀攀挀漀猀 戀甀琀 栀愀猀 氀椀瘀攀搀 椀渀 䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀
off and on all of her life.
㰀瀀㸀☀焀甀漀琀㬀䤀 氀椀瘀攀搀 椀渀 䠀漀甀猀琀漀渀 攀椀最栀琀 洀椀氀攀猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 洀愀氀氀⸀ 伀渀 匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀
mornings it took two hours to get there. So I can be in Pecos for 戀爀攀愀搀 愀渀搀 洀椀氀欀 愀渀 戀爀攀愀搀 愀渀搀 戀攀 戀愀挀欀 栀漀洀攀 戀攀昀漀爀攀 猀漀洀攀漀渀攀 椀渀 䠀漀甀猀琀漀渀
can go across town." 㰀瀀㸀䄀渀渀 䈀氀愀椀爀Ⰰ 䐀攀眀攀攀猀ᤀ†搀愀甀最栀琀攀爀Ⰰ 猀愀椀搀 猀攀氀昀ⴀ爀攀氀椀愀渀挀攀 椀猀 椀洀瀀漀爀琀愀渀琀 椀渀
such a sparsely populated area. "You do things on your own, you 琀愀欀攀 挀愀爀攀 漀昀 礀漀甀爀 漀眀渀 渀攀攀搀猀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 椀昀 椀琀 最攀琀猀 琀漀 戀攀 琀漀漀 洀甀挀栀Ⰰ
usually somebody in the community knows how to do that. I don’t 琀栀椀渀欀 愀渀礀 漀昀 甀猀 昀攀攀氀猀 眀攀 挀愀渀ᤀ琠 愀猀欀 愀渀礀戀漀搀礀 攀氀猀攀 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀 甀猀 眀栀攀渀 眀攀
need it." Don Creager, county judge of Loving County, agreed. "We 洀愀礀 栀愀瘀攀 瀀漀氀椀琀椀挀愀氀 猀瀀愀琀猀 愀渀搀 愀氀氀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 礀漀甀 欀渀漀眀 椀昀 椀琀 挀漀洀攀猀 琀漀
sickness and death and other things, functions and all, we all 挀漀洀攀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀⸀ ☀焀甀漀琀㬀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Loving County Sheriff Richard Putnam said the county continues 琀漀 栀愀瘀攀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 漀爀 渀漀 挀爀椀洀攀Ⰰ 愀渀 漀挀挀愀猀椀漀渀愀氀 瀀攀琀琀礀 漀椀氀昀椀攀氀搀 琀栀攀昀琀 漀爀
some would-be hunter trespassing on to private ranch land — 愀渀漀琀栀攀爀 瀀氀甀猀 昀漀爀 氀椀瘀椀渀最 挀漀渀搀椀琀椀漀渀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀
Some suggest Mentone is a town in name only. Charles Derrick, 眀栀漀 眀椀琀栀 眀椀昀攀 刀攀最攀渀愀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀猀 琀栀攀 䈀漀漀琀 吀爀愀挀欀 䌀愀昀攀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀
occasionally presents little evidence of being open, may have 甀渀椀渀琀攀渀琀椀漀渀愀氀氀礀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀 琀栀椀猀 戀礀 甀琀琀攀爀椀渀最 漀渀攀 漀昀 栀椀猀 椀洀瀀爀漀洀瀀琀甀
quips: "We may look like we’re closed but we’re not." 㰀⼀琀爀㸀
㰀椀洀最 愀氀琀㴀∀∀ 猀爀挀㴀∀䴀攀渀琀漀渀攀─㈀ 匀栀攀爀椀昀昀─㈀ 倀愀最攀─㈀ ㈀⸀樀瀀最∀
style="height: 220px; width: 237px" /> 㰀⼀琀搀㸀
㰀琀爀㸀