[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        ON THE RETIREMENT OF SHERIFF WARDIE PERNELL VINCENT, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate my good friend, 
constituent, and public servant, Sheriff Wardie Pernell Vincent, Sr. 
upon his retirement from service as Sheriff for Northampton County, 
North Carolina.
  Wardie Vincent was born on November 4, 1947, to Eugene and Norene 
Vincent in the town of Henrico, North Carolina. He attended Northampton 
County public schools and graduated in 1966 from historic Gumberry High 
School. On October 5, 1967, Wardie enlisted in the United States Army 
and courageously served the United States of America for two years. He 
was Honorably Discharged from military service and returned to his 
hometown where he and his wife Betty would rear three wonderful 
children.
  Wardie Vincent's service in the United States Army introduced him to 
the important work of law enforcement and the value in maintaining safe 
communities. He applied the skills learned in the Army to excel in his 
desire to be a law enforcement officer and pursue training at Halifax 
Community College where he received a degree in Criminal Justice.
  Wardie Vincent's first job out of college was as security guard with 
the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers' Association in the Town of Rich 
Square. He later became an undercover officer working with Bertie, 
Hertford, Warren and Martin Counties on a variety of critical 
assignments targeting drug use and gang activity. It would become clear 
that Wardie Vincent's unmatched skills and experience would lead him to 
seek the office of Sheriff for Northampton County.
  At age 51, Wardie Vincent was elected Sheriff of Northampton County. 
He would be reelected three more times to this high office, most 
recently in November 2010 when he ran unopposed. Sheriff Vincent has 
served a total of fourteen years as the High Sheriff of Northampton 
County and has overseen the expansion of this office though the hiring 
of additional Deputy Sheriffs and a strategic crackdown on illegal 
drugs through the county's drug taskforce. He also modernized the 
Sheriffs office by securing grants and improved budgeting for updated 
technology and law enforcement tools. There is no doubt that the 
Northampton County has been made safer through the visionary leadership 
of Sheriff Wardie Vincent.
  Sheriff Vincent and his wife Betty look forward to spending more time 
with their three children--Kimberly, Kenisha, and Wardie, Jr. and their 
five grandchildren--Saige, Kai, Omani, Myles, Caleb, and Kenadi.
  Mr. Speaker, the retirement of Sheriff Wardie Pernell Vincent, Sr. 
will leave a great void in Northampton County. But I know he will 
continue to play a vital role in his community as a leader, advocate, 
and friend to his fellow citizens. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
offering our sincere appreciation for Sheriff Vincent's forty years of 
public service and best wishes upon his retirement.

                          ____________________