Johnson Officials Dedicate Flagpole
Former City Employee Honored
Last updated Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:48 PM CDT in News
By Bob Caudle
The Morning News
JOHNSON - Barbara Dillard only worked in the Johnson Police Department for eight years, but she left a lasting impression on those who worked with her.
About 75 people attended a 30-minute ceremony dedicating a flagpole and pavilion in memory of Dillard on Wednesday in front of the Johnson City Hall.
Dillard, who died July 30, 2007, was a deputy court clerk for the Johnson Police Department. A granite block engraved with her name sits beneath the flagpole.
Dillard also spent several years in the Elm Springs Police Department and was well-known in the area.
"Barbara was about as good a person as you could want," said Vernon Sisemore, the Johnson police chief. "I never saw her lose her composure. She was a good example of a person you'd want to be."
Most of the material and work on the pole and pavilion was donated by area residents. Fadil Bayyari, a local builder, donated the flagpole.
"She was awesome," said Betty Whittaker, Johnson's court clerk. "She never got mad, and she'd calm me when I was upset."
Jennifer Allen, Johnson's recorder-treasurer, said Dillard epitomized the meaning of the word "lady."
"She was a good lady with a wicked good sense of humor," Allen said. "She had lots of class and that's hard to find anymore."
The ceremony included a flag-raising, with Sgt. Kyle Sylvester representing the Johnson Police Department, Sgt. Mike Womack representing the military and Capt. Konrad Anderson representing the Johnson Fire Department.
Johnson Mayor Lonnie Barron was host of the gathering and Justice of the Peace Tom Lundstrum led a prayer and read scriptures. Lunch was served in city hall afterward.
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