Rufe Jordan ~ Pampa, TX
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 32.176 W 100° 57.828
14S E 321965 N 3934289
An oil portrait hangs inside the county court house, they would not let me take a picture.
Waymark Code: WM6VT9
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/25/2009
Views: 4
County of Memorial: Gray County.
Location of Memorial: Frost St. & Kingsmill St., courthouse lawn, Pampa.
Marker Text:
R. H. (RUFE) JORDAN
GRAY COUNTY SHERIFF
1950 -1988Thumbnail Bio of Rufe:
R.H. (Rufe) Jordan was born October 8, 1912. He grew up in Gray County and graduated from High School here in 1931. He went to work for Sheriff Lon Blancett as a jailer when he was 19 years old. He quit that job because the depression was so bad, and he could go to work for Danciger Oil Refinery in Pampa, at much better wages. He seemed destined to be in law enforcement, because in 1946 Rufe went to work for Sheriff G.H. Kyle. He resigned his job as chief deputy after 4 years, in order to run for the Office of Sheriff. He took office in 1951, and was to be re-elected some 12 or 13 times, many times unopposed, sometimes with as many as 6 opponents.
Rufe served the people of Gray County for 37 years as Sheriff, and 4 years as the Chief Deputy.
Mr. Jordan served for many years as a director at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. He has been a member of First Baptist Church of Pampa for 52 years, and is a 32 degree mason. Rufe was president of the Texas Sheriff's Association in 1958 and was appointed to the Attorney General's Law Enforcement Commission in Austin under Governor John Connelly. Rufe was selected as the outstanding peace officer in 1978 by the Texas Law Enforcement Foundation. He was recipient of the honored Tom Tellespen Law Enforcement Award in 1983 in Amarillo, Texas. It is awarded to the top officer in the state of Texas. Rufe was recognized by the Tri State Peace Officers Association when he left the office in 1988, as well as by many friends in Gray County who honored him at the M.K. Auditorium on "Rufe Jordan" Day. The portrait done in oils, and presented to Gray County, is now hanging in the Courthouse where he served so long.
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