DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — and it's worth every word. Roscoe D. Holliday was born in Mississippi on July 24, 1887, and somewhere along the way, before 1910, he made his way to Polk County, Texas.
Now, a lot of people pass through a place. Roscoe Holliday put down roots and went to work. He started as constable and deputy sheriff — ten years of that, learning the county road by road, face by face, case by case.
By 1920, Polk County had seen enough of what this man could do, and they elected him sheriff. Seventeen years in that office. Seventeen.
That is not a career, friends — that is a calling. And when those seventeen years were done, the Texas Rangers came calling. He was appointed to the Rangers and served there for thirteen years more.
Think about what that adds up to: constable, deputy, sheriff, Ranger. The man spent his life on the side of the law, and the law was lucky to have him. Along the way, Roscoe Holliday became what the marker calls a shrewd investigator — solving numerous cases of murder.
Not one, not a handful. Numerous. And if that weren't enough, he was instrumental in the capture of many bootleggers, which in certain corners of East Texas was its own particular kind of war.
Roscoe D. Holliday died November 14, 1950. He came from Mississippi, landed in Polk County, and spent a lifetime making sure the people around him could sleep a little easier at night.
That's a lawman's story. That's his.
What the marker says
(July 24, 1887 - Nov. 14, 1950) Born in Mississippi. Came to Polk County prior to 1910. Served as county's constable and deputy sheriff for 10 years before his election as sheriff in 1920. After 17 years in this office, he was appointed to the Texas Rangers, where he served for 13 years. During long career, he became a shrewd investigator, solving numerous cases of murder. Also he was instrumental in the capture of many bootleggers.