An era has passed
By Mike Simmons A hero of mine died today. Pat Patterson was a gentle giant, not only in his size – he had been voted “Mr. Hawaiian Islands” – But […]
End of Watch: The Death of Escambia County (FL) Constable William “Clint” Rigby
An excerpt from the book, Some Gave All, available on Amazon By Mike Simmons 58-year-old W. C. Rigby, known to everyone as “Clint,” was an icon in rural northern Escambia
Escambia County Sheriff Ebenezer Dorr
By Michael Simmons At 311 South Adams Street in downtown Pensacola sits the elegant Dorr House. The website, Great American Treasures describes it as “Beautifully Restored and lovingly furnished jewel
Queen of the Convict Camp
By Mike Simmons In 1936, the Innerarity Point community, located in Escambia County, Florida, was the scene for bad news for two guys – Harval Russell Keys and Arthur Smith.
End of Watch: The Murder of Pensacola Police Detective Archie Bowman, August 19, 1938
By Mike Simmons August 19, 1938, was a hot day in Pensacola. Typical of Pensacola weather, the humidity could be described as suffocating. But Detective Archie Bowman had a job
Pensacola Deaths in 1929
By Mike Simmons On Saturday, January 11, 1930, the Pensacola News Journal reported the deaths in Pensacola from the previous year. 523 people died in the Pensacola area in 1929
Is “He needed killin” a defense?
By Mike Simmons James W. Linton was at his home on Sunday night, August 7, with his wife and adult daughter. Linton, in his 50s, lived in Bluff Springs, Florida,
The Public Servants
By Mike Simmons Pensacola, Florida, August 1, 1999, 9:04 PM When the Pensacola Police Department was notified of a man in his backyard shooting a gun, which threatened his
Stopped in Walton County
By Mike Simmons On Tuesday, April 11, 1961, Florida State Trooper Bill McDaniel was patrolling along U.S. Highway 90 near Boy Scout Road in Walton County when he noticed a
A Little Extra Money on the Side
Sheriff J.C. Van Pelt and County Solicitor Harry Thompson Everyone knew it was coming. The 18th Amendment had been voted into existence, and the Volstead Act became law on January