Martin Hays
Longview, Gregg County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(1883-1958) Respected Longview citizen. Married Clara Harris, daughter of Gregg County pioneer family. Active in civic affairs, first elected to public office, 1910, as city marshall and district clerk. County sheriff 1924-1932. Seldom carried a gun-- enforced law in a soft-spoken manner. Was among first Texas sheriffs to organize junior deputies. Member, First Baptist Church, a Royal Arch Mason; and Woodman of the World.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Martin Hays (1883–1958) built a long career in East Texas public life, beginning in 1910 as Longview's city marshal and district clerk before serving as Gregg County sheriff from 1924 to 1932. Married into a pioneer Gregg County family, he was known for enforcing the law in a soft-spoken manner and rarely carrying a gun. He was among the first Texas sheriffs to organize junior deputies, and remained active in his church and fraternal orders.
Why it matters
His life reflects the quieter, community-rooted style of law enforcement that shaped small-town Texas in the early twentieth century.
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Related people
- · Martin Hays
- · Clara Harris
Themes & tags
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