Jess Sweeten

Historian Archie P. McDonald, in a Texas Escapes column, calls Sweeten the legend of Henderson County: six feet four, 225 pounds, and the youngest sheriff in Texas when elected in 1932. McDonald writes that critics thought some tactics went beyond the law, that he reportedly questioned one suspect for sixteen days and nights, and that he shot nine men, three fatally, including Gerald Johnson, the Dallas Kid, after a chase through Athens. Sweeten left the badge in 1954 for Mobil Oil and was elected mayor of Athens in 1960.

What the plaque says

Jess Sweeten Completing his work as a steel rigger in 1929 employed by Otis Elevator Company on the Texas Power & Light Company in Trinidad, Texas, Jess Sweeten was offered a job as a deputy constable in Henderson County. Bob King was appointed to find a new deputy constable for Trinidad and witnessed Jess break up a fight between the rough transient laborers working in the area. Jess' tall and strong stature and his willingness to use his fists made him a good candidate. Jess formally began his career in law enforcement in 1930. Jess' background in law started with his great-grandfather, grandfather and father who were all U.S. marshals. Jess grew up with high regard for the law and was an expert marksman. He had considerable success in cleaning up the small town of Trinidad where residents took on their own form of law and order, resulting in chaos and danger in the town. His success was documented by several newspapers. The newly-elected Henderson County Sheriff, Joel Baker, was so impressed that he hired Jess as a deputy sheriff in 1931. Jess was nicknamed "two gun Pete" by the Athens Daily Review. Because of his fame and success, jess and sheriff baker's relationship declined until Baker asked Jess to resign. He was then offered a job as a Texas Ranger but turned it down to become the deputy constable for Athens, under constable M. G. Jepson. Jepson encouraged Jess to run for county sheriff and, in 1932, at 26 years of age, Jess was elected as the youngest sheriff in Texas at that time. Jess served as sheriff from 1933-1946 and again from 1949-1954. At age 72, Jess earned his GED diploma and became the special criminal investigator of the 3rd judicial district which included Henderson County. He died in 1980 in Athens. (2014)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — 5.3 mi
  A Texas Parks and Wildlife hatchery and visitor center in Athens where visitors can borrow tackle and fish a stocked pond, watch native species in gallery tanks and ride a tram around the hatchery.
• Purtis Creek State Park — 13 mi
  A 1,582-acre park straddling the Henderson and Van Zandt county line, built around a 355-acre lake with no-wake fishing, borrowed tackle, a 4.1-mile hike-and-bike trail and a nature path.

More markers nearby

• Courts Under the Oaks — steps away
• First United Presbyterian Church of Athens — 0.2 mi
• Bruce Field — 0.4 mi
• Dulcinea Ann Holland Thompson Avriett — 0.5 mi