Published: May 07, 2008 09:18 pm            

Bye, bye Buffy

Deputy retires after 29 years with Sheriff’s Office

By Patrick McCreless

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM

The Good Hope Waffle House had just opened when Sgt. Rondey Burrow of the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office walked through the doors over 20 years ago. What he wanted was a bite to eat.

What he got was a new identity.

“There was a new waitress that saw my name plate that was worn down and said ‘Hi Buffy.’ I said ‘No, my name is Burrow.’ She said, ‘Well you’ll be that (Sgt. Buffy) from now on.’”

Burrow’s fellow deputies and friends have referred to him by the nickname ever since and apparently do not plan to stop the tradition, which was evident Tuesday when they held his retirement party, complete with a Sgt. Buffy cake.

Past and present members of the sheriff’s office gathered in the Cullman Civic Center to say their good-byes and well-wishes to Burrow, 63, of Crane Hill, who retired after 29 years of service with the agency.

“I appreciate the whole office, especially Tyler (Sheriff Roden) for his leadership, guidance and morals,” Burrow said. “Same thing with Wendell (Roden). He was like a father away from home.”

Former Sheriff Wendell Roden was one of the many who attended the event. Roden said he lured Burrow away from the Cullman Police Department and hired him as a deputy in 1978.

“He stayed with me until I retired in 1991,” Roden said. “I appreciate his help and the hard work he put in over the years.”

Burrow, who has a wife and two children, got his start in law enforcement in the late 1970s as a reserve member of the police department after he was burglarized.

“I got burglarized and my sister did ... I decided it was time to do something to help,” Burrow said.

After a short time as a reserve officer, Burrow worked for the police department for two years before moving over to the sheriff’s office. Once there, it took him only one year to reach the rank of sergeant.

While at the sheriff’s office, there were few jobs that Burrow did not undertake.

“I did almost everything that can be done from dispatch, investigations and some jail,” Burrow said. “In my early years I was a road supervisor where I trained them (patrolmen) and worked with them.”

In 1994, Burrow had a stroke and could no longer do patrol work. Burrow said he moved over to investigations and stayed there until the end of his career.

He said there were times in his life when he did not think he would stick with law enforcement until retirement. However, Burrow’s desire to help the community kept him going.

“Helping the public, meeting their needs ... that’s the reason I got into it,” Burrow said. “I’m glad I stayed.”

Chief Deputy Tony Quick is glad Burrow decided to stay as well.

“I worked with him for 24 years in all aspects of the sheriff’s office,” Quick said. “He’s always been right there when I needed him. Not only as an employee, but as a friend.”

For Sheriff (Tyler) Roden, Burrow was an excellent deputy who will be sorely missed.

“Ron (Burrow) always exhibited great character,” Roden said. “He always expressed joyfulness by maintaining a good attitude even wen facing unpleasant conditions.”

Now that Burrow is free from the responsibilities of law enforcement, he said he plans to spend much of his time traveling west to visit the country’s national parks.

“I’ve never been west,” Burrow said. “Wildlife, nature, that’s always been my No.1 thing of interest.”

        

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