[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING CECIL NOBLES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2012

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
accomplishments of Cecil Nobles, the much celebrated Sheriff of Long 
County, GA, and a pillar of his community.
  Cecil Nobles was born on February 21, 1935 in Long County, GA, to 
Raymond Elliott and Minnie Baxter Nobles. Raised in Long County, he was 
educated in Long County schools and graduated from Ludowici High School 
in 1953. After high school, Mr. Nobles earned a Bachelor's degree in 
Business and a Master's degree in Education from Georgia Southern 
University.
  Soon after graduation, Cecil Nobles began teaching in the Long County 
school system from 1959 until 1969. During that time, he also served as 
an Assistant Principal and as the elected Coroner of Long County from 
1962 through 1968. Mr. Nobles made a remarkable impact within the realm 
of education when he taught one of the first integrated classes in 
Southeastern Georgia.
  Forever dedicated to Long County and public service, Cecil Nobles 
rose to become the longest serving Sheriff in the State of Georgia and 
the second longest serving Sheriff in the United States. During his 
eleven terms as Sheriff and two terms as Coroner, Mr. Nobles was always 
known for his tireless dedication to public service, his commitment to 
law enforcement, and his love of his family and friends throughout Long 
County and beyond.
  Sheriff Nobles was part of a vanishing tradition in Georgia of long 
serving, old school sheriffs. In many ways he ran Long County. If you 
wanted something done with one phone call, you dialed his number and 
his influence did not end at the county line. Using his extensive 
Rolodex, which may have not been a rolodex, but it certainly was not an 
email list, of elected officials, and agency heads, he always knew just 
who to call. He fought for everything as if it was the last chance 
between Long County's survival and its bankruptcy. He secured funding 
for countless projects and his legacy in South Georgia will be long 
lasting. Most importantly he never forgot a friend and frequently used 
two words that have become rare in politics: `thank you.' In turn today 
we thank him for his service. I was proud to call him a friend.

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