First Generation
 
1.   Bobby Rex Grubbs was born on 18 Jun 1945 in Nolan Co, Texas and died in 2015 in Brown Co, Texas.
 
He was elected Sheriff of Brown County in November 2004 and was sworn in January 1, 2005 at midnight.
 
Bobby Rex Grubbs was born June 18, 1945 in Sweetwater, Texas. He graduated from High School in Sweetwater and joined the Navy in 1964. He was assigned to the Destroyer — USS Fletcher DD445 and stationed out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His ship was deployed to Viet Nam three times. He ended his Navy career in 1968 with the rank of 21 Class Petty Officer with an E5 grade.
In March 1969, he was hired by Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Trooper and assigned to Denton County. Later he was assigned to the License and Weight Division. In November 1984, he was promoted to the Texas Ranger Division of DPS, in the Midland District. In 1986, he was assigned to Brownwood as headquarters. He retired from the Rangers on September 1, 2003 with 34 years and 6 months service.
He married Joy Barber in 1970 in Dallas.
He has one son, John David Grubbs, and one daughter, Jannell Alene Grubbs Johnson. At the present time, he is a proud Papa of three grandchildren.
 
Bobby married Joy Barber daughter of Clint Barber and Alene Johnson on 30 Oct 1970 in Dallas CO, Texas.  Joy was born about 1947.
They had the following children:
 2M        i.             John David Grubbs
 3F          ii.            Janell Alene Grubbs
​

​First Generation
 
1.  James Glenn Smith was born on 17 Jul 1956 in Ector Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co 1/1/1997 to 1/1/2005
 
Glen Smith retired on December 31, 2004 after 27 ½ years of service, all which were in Brown County.
 
In July of 1977 on his 21st birthday, Sheriff Smith started as a Deputy/Jailer living in the quarters of the old county jail. He wore many hats during his career as he worked patrol, CID, narcotics and in 1985 was promoted to Chief Deputy.
 
He was elected Sheriff of Brown County and took office on January 1, 1997 serving two terms.
 
Over the years, his career has taken him to three different facilities in Brown County. The old county jail that was completed in 1903 was where he started in 1977. When that jail was no longer utilized to house inmates, a new facility was built and moved into in 1981, which only held 60 inmates. A new joint Law Enforcement Center with the Brownwood Police Department was completed in July 2001. This facility houses 196 inmates.
 
Glen Smith stated he has enjoyed his law enforcement career in Brown County. It held a special meaning to him personally when he was elected as Sheriff in the county where he began his career.
 
Glenn married Jo Lynn Croft daughter of Donald Morriss Croft and Mary Josephine Fitzhugh on 18 Feb 1978 in Brown Co, Texas. Jo was born on 21 Jun 1958 in Potter Co, Texas.
They had the following children:
 2M        i.             Jeremy Glen Smith was born in Brown Co, Texas.
 3F          ii.            Lyndsey Marie Smith was born in Brown Co, Texas.

​First Generation
 
1.  William Bryan (Bill) Donahoo was born on 4 Dec 1932 in Gouldbusk, Coleman County, Texas, son of Wilmer Lewis Donahoo and Minnie Elizabeth Gober.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co
 
Bill DONAHOO was elected on November 6, 1984, re-elected November 8, 1988, and is currently serving as sheriff (when this was published). Sheriff Donahoo was born December 4, 1932, and has been a lawman for thirty years. He and his wife, Winona, live near Brownwood. Their children are Nova, Trish, and Bill. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 
William married Oscar Winona Hallmark, daughter of Oscar Merritt ‘Boots’ Hallmark and Cleo Patra Walters.
They had the following children:
 2F          i.             Nona Rae Donahoo
 3F          ii.            Patricia Beth “Trish” Donahoo
 4M        iii.           William Hallmark Donahoo
Bill is a sixth generation Texan. His Donahoo ancestors were in Texas by 1834 and received land grants. His Freeman ancestors were in Texas by 1846 in Hill County. He started his law enforcement career in the Marine Corps in the Military Police. He began his civilian law enforcement career at Brownwood Police Department under Chief Jack Pack in 1955 as a patrol officer. He worked there almost five years. In approximately 1960 he went to Midland Police Department as a patrol officer. He was promoted to Patrol Sgt, and worked for them for approximately two and one half years. He returned to Brown County and went to work for Sheriff Joe Townsend as a deputy. In 1964, he was elected Chief of Police for Brownwood Police Department, and was Chief for nine years. He was recruited to work for West Central Texas Council of Government in Abilene for about eight months. He was appointed Brown County Juvenile Probations officer for two years. He then made an unsuccessful bid for Police Chief. He went into the retail sales and management of the automobile industry for three years. In the late 1970’s he returned to law enforcement under Sheriff Danny Neal, as his Chief Deputy. After Stovall was elected Sheriff, he was appointed Chief Deputy under Sheriff Stovall. Sheriff Stovall only served one term (four years). Bill successfully ran for Sheriff against three opponents and won without a runoff. He was sheriff for twelve consecutive years. He served from January 1, 1985 until December 31, 1996.
He retired more or less to take care of health problems. He had to have a pacemaker, stints and then open heart surgery. After he had his ticker fixed he has returned to work, part time, for Davis Morris Funeral Home as a General Assistant, where he works as of this day.
He stated that he has enjoyed his law enforcement career. He said it is not the best profession to get into as far as money is concerned, even though the pay is extremely better than when he was in law enforcement.
But all in all, it is a ‘noble’ profession to enable you to help our fellow man, our community, and contribute to the future of our citizens by guiding them in the right direction. Someone has to stand up for ‘the little guy’, for the timid, and for the people who are in the right, to protect and prevent crime.
He stated that he felt he had made his contribution a good one.

First Generation
 
1.  Melvin Stovall was born on 9 May 1910 in Voss, Coleman Co, Texas. He died on 22 May 1994 in Brown Co, Texas. He was buried in Zephyr Cemetery, Brown Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co, Texas
 
1920 US census - Coleman Co, Texas - Santa Anna
1930 US census - Brown Co, Texas - Pct 4w/parents
 
Melvin STOVALL was elected on November 4, 1980, and served until January 1, 1985. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 
Melvin married Verniece Murphree daughter of Walter H Murphree and Susan Virgie Parsons. Verniece was born on 2 Jul 1913. She died in 1993. She was buried in Zephyr Cemetery, Brown CO, Texas.
They had the following children:
 2F          i.             Ima Gene Stovall
 3F          ii.            Josephine Stovall Rhodes
 4F          iii.           Shirley Ann Stovall
 5F          iv.           Judy Beth Stovall
 6F          v.            Melvina Janice Stovall
 7F          vi.           Meldina Bernice Stovall
 8M        vii           Gary Melvin Stovall
 
“Monday, June 29, 1981, Open House for the new Brown County Jail. Constructed of precast panels with the cost being $1,400,000.00 and holds 72 prisoners. General Contractor, Herman Bennett Company, Robert Webster, Architect. Ernest Cadenhead, County Judge and Melvin Stovall, Sheriff. (In the Life and Lives of Brown County People; Brown County Historical Society Book 1 Second Edition Indexed 1988, complied by Lorene Bishop assisted by Melba Coursey; pg 23)
Small Flower Pot
 
When the prisoners were moved out of the jail in 1981, the Brown County Historical Society asked permission to give a tour of the old jail just as it was vacated. No cleaning was done, just tour of all four stories.
Mrs. Elzina Welch was one of the ladies who helped with the tours one day. In one of the rooms there was a small flower pot with a plant that was almost dead. She said to some of the ladies that she believed she could revive the plant and make it grow. She took the pot home with her and put it in good soil, a bigger pot, watered it good and set it by her front door in the sunshine. Soon the plant took off growing and became a healthy bush, about four feet tall. A friend came by to see her and when she left she ask Mrs. Welsh why was she growing the marijuana plant. To Mrs. Welsh’s surprise she was growing an illegal plant and did not know it. Immediately, the plant was destroyed, but Mrs. Welsh had proved her point. She had nursed the plant back to life and it had become a beautiful plant.

First Generation
 
1.  Danny Joe Neal was born on 15 March 1941 in Brown Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co from 11/11/1971 to 12/31/1978
 
Danny J. NEAL was appointed on October 11, 1971, and was elected November 7, 1972, re-elected November 2, 1976, and served until January 1, 1981. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 

 
Danny married Warrenetta Jean Gowan.
They had the following children:
 2M        i.             Cody Joe Neal was born in Brown Co, Texas.
 3M        ii             Corey Clay Neal was born in Brown Co, Texas.
 4F          iii.           Chanda Layne Neal was born in Brown Co,
 
 
 
Taking Wood Alcohol Kills Two
 
A story in the Brownwood Bulletin, dated April 18, 1974, stated that two inmates from the jail were taken to Hendrick Memorial Hospital in Abilene in critical condition after having apparently consumed wood alcohol in the jail. Three other inmates were still in the Brownwood hospital that morning in fair condition. Five others also drank the wood alcohol but showed no symptoms of being ill.
 
According to Brown County Sheriff Danny Neal, the wood alcohol was given to the inmates by a trusty who took the bottle from the supply closet and substituted water for the contents so the jailer could not know the difference. The bottle in the closet was marked with cross bones and skull on its label. The word “poison” was written and the statement on the label said “wood alcohol is a violent poison. It cannot be taken internally without causing blindness, serious physical decay resulting in death.”
 
Both of the prisoners, Tommy Newton, 18, and Jim Edwards, 18, died as a result of drinking the wood alcohol. Thirteen other inmates ended up in the hospital as a result of drinking the poison.
 
Danny Neal began his law enforcement career with the Brownwood Police Department under Chief Bill Donahoo. He then went to the Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Joe Townsend.
 
He was appointed Sherriff when Townsend was appointed Probation Officer. He was sheriff for nine years and almost two months.
 
He was the last sheriff to live in the old jail, across from the Courthouse.
 
The weather was stormy during this time period, with 3 tornadoes touching down in Brown County from 1976 to 1979.
 
During the 1970’s, Texas was still experiencing a population growth. Businesses were booming. Crime was running rampant. Where there was growth erupting at such a rapid pace, there were rumors of corruption. Word on the street in West Texas, was that if it was illegal, immoral, or sinful, you could get it in Brownwood. Throughout Brown County there was controversy and allegations of County government officials and prominent citizens being engaged in organized crime and corruption milling around. The County Judge James Bunnell died in a car accident, which was thoroughly investigated to assure that it was an accident. Brown County needed all the help it could get. DPS Texas Ranger Nornan Autry spent considerable time investigating these allegations and those of an illegal gambling ring and kickbacks. The US DEA and DPS Narcotics spent a considerable time investigating the trafficking of drugs from Brown County to nationally known celebrities and athletes. The Grand Jurors were kept very busy. There were never enough officers to go around, and never enough money to fund the investigations. But justice prevailed and things finally settled down.
He relocated in Midland, Texas for a while.

First Generation
 
1.  Joseph Rayford Townsend was born on 1 Mar 1914. He died on 16 Jan 1995. He was buried in Eastlawn Memorial Park, Early, Brown Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown County
 
Joe R. TOWNSEND was elected on November 8, 1960, re-elected on November 3, 1964, November 5, 1968, and served until October 1971. There was no reason given for his leaving office. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com

​​Joe R. Townsend is a native of Brown County and the son of Will J. Townsend and Eliza Stewart Townsend, a pioneer Brown County Family. Mr. Townsend has had thirty years of service in Law Enforcement.
His career began in 1948 as a patrol man for Brownwood, in 1951 a deputy sheriff, and became sheriff in Brown County in 1961, and held that position, until October 1, 1971, when he resigned following hip surgery. Later he was appointed Adult Probation Officer and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1978.
He served as sheriff eleven years, ten months and eleven days.
Joe is married to Modell Boyington and they reside at 2201 Ave E. Modell is the daughter of Ed Boynton and Rachel Tiner Boynton, a pioneer Comanche Family. Modell Boyington Townsend was born in Comanche County, but her early school days were spent in Blanket School, Brown County, Texas. She was office secretary for the Brown County Schools for twenty years.
The Townsends’ only daughter, JoDell Townsend, graduated from Brownwood High School and Howard Payne University, and taught school in Odessa, Texas for two years.
In 1966 she became a teacher in Brownwood Junior High School and taught Physical Education. On Sunday, March 20, 1977, JoDell was not up getting ready for church, and her mother checked to see what the trouble was and she found that her daughter had passed away in her sleep. High school and Junior High students were dismissed from classes to attend the memorial services at Melwood Baptist Church. Both buildings at the church were filled and people were standing in the Street to pay tribute to a beloved teacher and friend. (In the Life and Lives of Brown County People; Brown County Historical Society, Book 1, Second Edition, Indexed 1988, Complied by Lorene Bishop assisted by Melba Coursey; published Dec 1981; pg 21)
“Many things go through my mind that happened during my service to Brown County. My time began in 1951 when Ray Masters was sheriff. From that time on, I cannot recall but two times the jail being empty, and that was only for a few hours.
At times there have been from one to one hundred and thirty-five prisoners in jail at one time. This being when the Border Patrol was gathering illegal aliens plus people charged with all types of violations.
One night I got a call on three drunks, and when I arrived at the Jail with my prisoners, there was a Liquor Control Officer and two Texas Highway Officers with twelve from a gambling raid. After waking the jailer to let us in, he looked at the group and sat down. One of the officers asked if he were going to book them, and he said “No, let’s just take a head count and lock them up.”
As sheriff from 1961 through the next eleven years my family and I were at home in the Sheriffs Apartment in the Brown County Jail, and the jailer and his wife lived in the jailer’s apartment.
Speaking of the jailer, one of the memories of food service is that he and his wife cooked huge pots of beans, stew, corn and other foods and carried this up the stair way to be served to the prisoners.
One of the most noted prisoners was Rae Bourbon, who was a ‘Female Impersonator’. He was transferred from Big Spring on a change of venue on a murder charge. His last place to perform was the ‘Blue Cat Lounge’ in St. Louis, Missouri. While in jail he talked to Bob Hope and Mae West.
On one occasion a prisoner was choking and the jailer reported that something had to be done for the man. Dr. H.L. Lobstein, Brown County Health Officer, was called and he requested the prisoner be carried to the hospital. The man was in such bad shape that an x-ray was made immediately. Down, completely out of sight, in the man’s throat a teaspoon was lodged. Dr. Lobstein took an instrument and pulled the spoon and the prisoner was returned to the county jail. Written by Joe Townsend, November 1981. (In the Life and Lives of Brown County People; Brown County Historical Society Book 1 Second Edition Indexed 1988, complied by Lorene Bishop assisted by Melba Coursey; pg 21)
 
Locked Jailer In Cell and Escaped
 
According to the Brownwood Bulletin, May 3, 1965, two prisoners escaped from the Brown County Jail on a Sunday, May 2, 1965, about 10 a.m., when they locked the jailer, Doug Jarvis, and a trusty, Cecil Hamlett, in a cell and fled from the city in an automobile stolen at a nearby church. They were Jerry Gage, 28, of Houston and Eugene Wilson, 34, whose mother resided in Brownwood. The jailer and trusty had gone to the “bull pen” to get something stored in it when Wilson lunged at Jarvis and put a knife to his throat and said “You can take it easy or you can take it hard.” Jarvis told Wilson to go ahead, the jail was all his.
The escaped prisoners took a 1954 car owned by Mrs. Royce Newcomb parked at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The car was later found abandoned about 5 p.m. Sunday in Brady. It was 30 minutes before a woman went to the jail to see a prisoner and Jarvis yelled out the window to the woman to go to the police and call the sheriff. 1920 US census - Brown Co, Texas Pct 3
1930 US census - Brown Co Texas Pct 3
 
Joseph married Modell Boyington. Modell was born in 1920.
They had the following children:
 2F          i.             JoDell Townsend was born on 18 Mar 1942. She died on 20 Mar 1977. She was buried in Eastlawn Memorial Park, Early, Brown Co, Texas. 

 

​First Generation
 
1.  Rayford Earl Masters was born on 1 Feb 1914 in Limestone Co, Texas. He died on 29 Jul 1992 in Dallas Co, Texas. He was buried in Coolidge Cemetery, Limestone Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co. lived in old jail
 
Ray E. MASTERS was elected November 7, 1950, re-elected November 4, 1952, November 2, 1954, November 6, 1956, and served until January 1, 1961. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 
1920 US census — Limestone Co, Texas
1930 US census — Limestone Co, Texas
 
James Troy Braswell Escapes Jail
 
James T. Braswell broke out of the county jail at 8p.m. on July 5, 1955. He brushed by Jailer Doug Jarvis just after the jailer had unlocked the door to the second floor “bull pen” to deliver a fresh five gallon trash can. Braswell ran down the metal stairs through the jail office, then through a connecting hall between the office and the jailer’s apartment. He left the jail through the kitchen door on the north side, jumped over the metal fence and ran toward Adams Branch northeast of the jail.
 
He kept out of sight along the Santa Fe railroad tracks by crawling under some brush. Braswell later hopped aboard a slow moving freight train and got off at Temple. He then hid in a corn field and the next day he took a freight train to Fort Worth. He was later captured near Roby, TX, after being hit four times by bullets. Officers in the posse shot at least 15 times at Braswell. The bullets cut into or grazed his left shoulder, right cheek, left rib, and right thigh. Doctors found his wounds not to be serious. At the time of his surrender, he had a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver.
 
He was brought back to Brownwood by Sheriff Ray Masters on Saturday, August 6, 1955. During his short freedom he had been involved in at least one robbery of B & B Grocery Store of $200.
 
Gilbert Amos Tried Jail Suicide
 
Gilbert Amos had written a five-page letter “To the Press and To Whom it May Concern after notes to my dear wife” prior to trying to commit suicide in the Brown County Jail on October 26, 1955. Jailer Doug Jarvis found Amos unconscious with a gas hose in his mouth. The hose had been removed from a gas heater in the cell. Gas was spewing from the hose at full capacity when it was removed from his mouth.
 
This took place on the third floor of the jail and the jailer discovered what was happening when he approached the cell with breakfast at about 8 a.m. He smelled gas and immediately found out what was going on. Amos’ cell mate was asleep at the time. He had replaced James Troy Braswell as Amos’ cell mate. Both, Amos and Braswell, had been charged as partners in a number of crimes in the Brown County area.
 
Dr. H. L. Lobstein, Brown County health officer and Fire Chief Charles Alford responded to the emergency. They brought a portable resuscitator with them. Dr. Lobstein said that Amos was a “pretty sick man” after regaining consciousness. Amos had become despondent after his wife and five children had visited with him the previous afternoon for about 30 to 40 minutes. He felt that the only way he could help his family was through Social Security and that the only way this could be accomplished was if he was dead. Thus, the suicide attempt.
 
The following afternoon, Amos was taken back to the Texas penitentiary at Huntsville after an examination by Dr. Lobstein that his condition was good enough to permit his travel to the penitentiary.
 
Escape Through Light Fixture Hole
 
Three men escaped the jail in July 1957 through a light fixture hole in a cell and slid down blankets tied to the roof. They were captured three days later near Hasse in Comanche County.
 
Hunger Strike
 
The Brownwood Bulletin reported on August 25, 1957, that two prisoners had been on a hunger strike at the jail for several days. The prisoners were R. B. Crow and Robert Emerson. Billy Lane Barton of Comanche was also a participant in the strike but he was transferred to San Patricio County jail in Sinton where he was wanted by officers there. They started their strike on a Wednesday but Baton was moved on that Friday and by Saturday evening, Robert Emerson started eating. At that time, R. B. Crow had not given up on his strike. Ray Master, Sheriff, felt that they had gone on a hunger strike because they were moved from the bull pen on the second floor to the third floor because they were causing fear among the other prisoners.
 
After leaving Brown County, He also worked in the Dallas County Jail.
 
Rayford married (1) Ruby Mae Thompson on 5 May 1940. Ruby was born in 1919. She was buried in Coolidge Cemetery, Limestone CO, Texas.
They had the following children:
 2F          i.             Carolyn Ann Masters was born in Brown Co, Texas.
Carolyn married Douglas Ray Cullinane on 9 Jul 1966 in Comal Co, Texas.
Rayford married (2) Lorene Couch.
They had the following children:
 3F          ii.            Quida Raye Masters was born in Navarro Co, Texas.
 

​First Generation
 
1.  Otis Forrest Shaw was born on 17 Apr 1914. He died on 30 Sep 1999 in Brown Co, Texas.
 
Elected Sheriff of Brown Co 11/5/1 946 until 1/1/1951
 
Otis F. SHAW was elected on November 5, 1946, re-elected (several times.. entry has wrong dates) and served until January 1951. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 
1920 US census - Johnson Co, Texas Cleburne Ward 4-w/parents - Moses F and Annie P, siblings Bertha M, and Lee
 
Family lived in the Jordan Springs area of Brown County, Texas.
 
1900 saw Brownwood as the biggest cotton center west of Ft. Worth. An oil boom in the 20s didn’t hurt the town, but it was nothing compared to the boom brought about by the building of Camp Bowie.
 
Camp Bowie, not to be confused with the WWI Camp Bowie near Fort Worth, was to become the largest training camp in Texas. The Brownwood population of 1940 (13,000) was more than matched just by the workers at the Camp. The severe housing shortage for military dependants and workers turned various buildings and even movie theaters into dormitories.
 
The Camp also served as a prisoner-of-war camp beginning in 1942, the camp held 3,000 German prisoners. Camp Bowie was deactivated in September of 1946.
 
Otis married Edna Caroline Douglass daughter of George Gordon Douglass and Zora Ann Savoy. Edna was born in 1918.
 
 

First Generation
 
1.  Earl Campbell Stewart was born on 23 Nov 1897 in Milburn, McCullough Co, Texas. He died on 20 Mar 1965 in Brownwood, Brown Co, Texas. He was buried in Blanket Cemetery, Brown Co, Texas.
 
Sheriff of Brown Co 1941 to 1947
 
Earl Campbell STEWART was elected on November 6, 1940, re-elected November 3, 1942, November 7, 1944, and served until January 1, 1947. Contributed by Patsy Johnson in Brownwood at ikesis2@juno.com
 
Texas Ranger Co E stationed in Reeves Co, then Brown Co until he died in the courthouse.
 
1920 US census — Brown Co, Texas
1930 US census — Brown Co, Texas
 

Earl C. Stewart
Sheriff 1941-1947
Shown with trainee bloodhounds. Used during WW II to track escaped German POW’s and local criminals

Earl C. Stewart
Texas Ranger 1947-1965
Stationed:
Pecos, TX 1947-1962
Brownwood, TX 1962-1965

During his tenure, eight men at the Rehabilitation Center at Camp Bowie were assigned to a work detail on the rifle range, when they suddenly overpowered the guard, stole a camp vehicle, a weapon carrier, and a number of shotguns, and made a break for freedom. Some were captured at Zephyr and Goldthwaite, but the rest were captured a good distance away. Sheriff Stewart aided in the capture of the escapees both in Zephyr and Goldthwaite. (The Nice and the Nasty in Brown County, A collection of Stories by Ruth Griffin Spence; Banner Printing Co, Brownwood, Texas; pg 121)
 
Earl married lone Ruina Bettis.  Ione was born on 19 Jun 1903.
They had the following children:
 +2F        i.             Betty Zane Stewart was born on 16 Apr 1935.
 
Second Generation
 
2. Betty Zane Stewart (Earl Campbell) was born on 16 Apr 1935 in Sheridan, Wyoming. Betty married Jerry Lahn Whatley.
They had the following children:
 3M        i.             Jerry Lahn II Whatley was born in Denton, Texas.
 4M        ii.            William Stewart Whatley was born in Denton, Texas.
 5F          iii.           Zana Gayle Whatley was born in Denton, Texas.