Special to The Citizen

After more than three decades of service to Fayette County, Sheriff Randall Johnson will officially retire at the end of this year. Sheriff Johnson’s distinguished career will be recognized with a public celebration in his honor on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kiwanis Fair Complex, 939 Goza Rd. in Fayetteville.

The free event will include a recognition ceremony hosted by state and local dignitaries, law enforcement officials, community leaders and Sheriff Johnson’s family. Well-wishers are encouraged to come by for an enjoyable afternoon of fellowship, food and refreshments.

The celebration is presented by the Sheriff Randall Johnson Retirement Committee, which includes Bob Reeves, Vicki Turner, Sharron Singletary, Sheriff-elect Wayne Hannah, and Debbie Britt.

In addition, the event is sponsored by Better Bonding, Brent Scarbrough & Company, Janie Calhoun, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House, Fayette Bonding, Fayette Wrecker, Leslie Contracting, Long Branch Restaurant, Motorola, Motorsports Emergency Services, Norred & Associates, Smith and Davis Clothing, Southeast Properties, Sunbelt Graphic Systems, Sutherland Foods, Trans Comm Services, and Doug and Debbie Walker.

Born in 1940, Randall Johnson has lived in Fayette County all of his life and resides within a “stone’s throw” of the home where he was raised. He graduated from Fayette County High School in 1960 and has been married to his wife Kaye for 40 years.

Sheriff Johnson in 1959 was first sworn in as a Fayette County deputy sheriff by then-Fayette County Sheriff James Stinchcomb. He then went to work in 1961 for the state of Georgia, working at the state Capitol in Atlanta. Afterward, he joined the Georgia Department of Revenue, Division of Alcohol and Tobacco as a special agent.

As a special agent, Johnson worked throughout the state as a “revenuer” responsible for combating “moonshiners.” It was while he was in that position that he was assigned to Fayette County for enforcement purposes. Johnson left the Department of Revenue in 1976 to successfully campaign for the office of sheriff, and he became the 23rd sheriff of Fayette County.

Sheriff Johnson has been successfully returned to office by the citizens of Fayette County eight times. When he retires on Dec. 31, 2008, he will have served a total of 32 years as sheriff. When Johnson took office in 1977, he had 14 employees. Upon his retirement, he will leave 224 employees.

Including his time as a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Jones and the Department of Revenue, Sheriff Johnson has served in law enforcement continuously for nearly 49 years. Of the sheriffs presently serving in Georgia, only two have served longer than Randall Johnson.