The weather for the 13th Annual Salute to Georgia Sheriffs could not have been better to honor the 2026 Sheriff of the Year, Logan Marshall of McDuffie County.
The Oct. 22 event was held at Walnut Creek Shooting Preserve on Stagecoach Road and once again drew law enforcement and leaders from across the state.
Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece hosted the salute and started the program with a welcome accompanied by Georgia Sheriff’s Association President Sheriff Noel Brown of Bullock County and GSA Executive Director Terry Norris.
Reece stated the event is all about Georgia Sheriffs, and the program verified that with the invocation led by Sheriff Eric Bryant of Sumter County, who serves as the GSA Chaplin, and the pledge of allegiance by Sheriff Bill Massee of Baldwin County.
Sheriff Howard Sills of Putnam County led the presentation to honor fallen officers.
The colors were presented by deputies of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the few on the program who was not in law enforcement was Senator Larry Walker. He was introduced by Sheriff Matt Moulton and Walker introduced Marshall, the honoree.
The blessing of the food was provided by Sheriff Lewis Walker of Crawford County
About Logan Marshall
Marshall was named Sheriff of the year July 22 by the Georgia’s Sheriff’s Association during the Sheriff’s Summer Training Conference held in Hall County.
Information about Marshall courtesy of the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office states he is a lifelong resident of McDuffie County. He graduated in 1967 and attended Augusta Technical College. He began his career in law enforcement in 1971 as a police officer in Thomson, graduating from the CSRA Law Enforcement Academy in 1972.
Marshall joined the MCSO in 1976 as an investigator and was promoted to chief deputy in 1984. He was elected sheriff in 1992 and furthered his law enforcement education at the National Sheriffs’ Institute.
Gov. Zell Miller appointed Marshall to the Board of Juvenile Justice, a position he held until 1998. He was elected to the position of Secretary/ Treasurer of the GSA in 1993 and became the first Black president of the association in 2009.
Non-law enforcement supporters
Members of the Jones County Pilot Club support of the annual event each year, assisting Linda Reece in providing cakes to top off a meal that is the combined effort of law enforcement officers and supporters.
The national anthem was performed by Adam Brey, and “Taps” was presented following the salute to fallen officers by Hawke Oller.
Event history
The first Salute took place in 2013, and the event has taken place each year with the exception of 2020, which was due to the pandemic.
Norris continues to remind event attendees that the Sheriff’s Salute was not the suggestion of the GSA. It was created by Reece with the intent to honor all Georgia sheriffs, their staffs and officers.
Reece expressed his appreciation to sponsors Sysco Food Services and Win Stewart.
