In Monday’s Cleveland County Commissioners’ meeting, Chairman Rod Cleveland asked for a moment of silence for former Cleveland County Sheriff Dewayne Beggs.
Sheriff Dewayne Beggs
The following is from the Norman Transcript obituaries page.
Fonie “DeWayne” Beggs, 65, of Norman, Oklahoma, died Friday, May 15, 2009 at his home.The family will receive guests from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Havenbrook Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Journey Church with Rev. John Gifford officiating. Interment will follow at IOOF Cemetery in Noble, Oklahoma. Pallbearers will be members of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Dept. Honor Guard: Ricky Abbott, David Bigley, Mark Drummond, Michael Finley, Jeffrey Jones, and Brent Locke. Honorary bearers are the Cleveland County Sheriffs Dept. Tom Bracett, Eddie Thomason, Sheriff John Whetsel, John Thompson, Sheriff Joe Lester, Bill Tucker, and Jim Faulkner. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma.Sheriff Beggs was born December 29, 1943 in Oklahoma City to Hazel Imogene Henson and Fonie Britten Beggs. He graduated from Noble High School in 1962 and attended the University of Oklahoma. While at OU his band, DeWayne and the Beldettas grew in popularity, becoming well known in Oklahoma and elsewhere. In 1999, he received his Bachelors Degree from Mid America Bible University. DeWayne married Sue Johnson on December 28, 1991. He worked at the Norman Police Department for ten years and General Motors for ten years. He served as Deputy Sheriff for three years before running for Sheriff in 1992. He was elected Cleveland County Sheriff and took office in 1993 and served until his retirement on April 30, 2008.Sheriff Beggs served as president of the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association from 1997 to 1999 and has served on the Board of Directors for several years. DeWayne was elected to the National Sheriff’s Association Sergeant-at-Arms in June 2002. He would have assumed the presidency in June 2008, but retired as Cleveland County Sheriff. He was a lifetime member of the National Sheriff’s Association. He was also a member of the American Correctional Association, American Jail Association, Oklahoma Sheriff’s — Peace Officers Association, Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, Norman Rotary Club, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association, and National Sheriff’s Association. He was also a member of the Moore Masonic Lodge and a Shriner. He served on the Board of Directors of the CLEET (Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training) for several years and was instrumental in building the new training facility in Ada.Sheriff Beggs was very proud of the new Operations Division, which was built in Slaughterville. The Operations Division houses the Field Deputies and Investigators. One of his dreams was to have a permanent Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Memorial which honors those killed in the line of duty. The memorial is also located in Slaughterville with the first memorial service being held on May 20, 2005.Sheriff Beggs was preceded in death by his father and sister, Bonita Mize. Survivors include his wife, Sue Beggs of the home; mother, Hazel I. Beggs; sons Terry and wife, Jill Beggs and David and wife, Linda Corneilson all of Norman; granddaughters Jennifer and husband, Joshua Cowan and Reagan Beggs, and great-grandson Tenzen Cowan.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720Send condolences online at http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/Obituaries.htm
