Commissioners named 2017 Days of '85 parade marshals

Newly appointed county officials were dealt quite a hand 100 years ago when Carter County was organized as a county by the February 22, 1917 Legislative action. O’Fallon Flashbacks history indicates that prior to Carter County breaking from Fallon County, both sides realized the distance from Baker to the Wyoming line was too far for the proper functions expected of a county administration.

The details of the county division are not recorded in official county records. However, the 1911 Legislature passed measures whereby areas could petition the state government to divide into smaller counties, providing more convenience for citizens. At that session, Senator H. N. Sykes represented Custer County from Ekalaka. Governor Norris was the governor at that time (see The Birth of Fallon County, pages 110-114, in O’Fallon Flashbacks).

Three commissioner districts were formed as the county started to take shape. The districts were divided fairly evenly in land size with District #1 being the middle portion of the county; District #2 in the north portion of the county, including the Town of Ekalaka which is also the county seat; and District #3 covering the south portion of the county, including Alzada (an unincorporated town), Hammond and Boyes.

George A. Hobbs, Commissioner District #2, and James Munro, Commissioner District #3, were the first two commissioners to be appointed to their respective offices. Frank W. Snow, Commissioner District #1, joined the group in April, 1917.

Following is a listing of the individuals who have served as county commissioners, their district, and years:

District # 1 (middle Carter County): Frank W. Snow, April 1917 – December 1922; U.C. Patton, January 1923 – May 1928; F.R. Allan, August 1928 – December, 1948; E.A. Major, January 1949 – December 1954; Alden W. Turbiville, January 1955 – December 1966; Albert S. Tauck, January 1967 – December 1972; Joseph Padden, January 1973 – December 1998; John Kerr, January 1997 – December 2002; Steve Rosencranz, January 2003 – December 1914; Rod Tauck, January 2015 to present.

District # 2 (North Carter County): George A. Hobbs, March 1917 – December 1918; John E. Johnstone, January 1919 – December 1926; E.C. Perso, January 1927 – December 1932; Walter Anderson, January 1933 – May 1938; George A. Hobbs, June 1938 – December 1938; E. C. Perso, January 1939 – August 1945; Christ Ness, September 1945 – December 1956; Lester Williams, January 1957 – December 1962; Earl Whitney, January 1963 – December 1966; Frank Castleberry, January 1967 – June 1970; M. A. Markuson, June 1970 – December 1986; Milton T. Markuson, January 1987 – December 2004; Bill Loehding, January 2005 – December 2013; Luther Waterland, January 2014 – December 2014; Steve Rosencranz, January 2015 to present.

District # 3: James Munro, March 1917 – August 1917; George H. Farwell, December 1917 – December 1917; John Buck, January 1919 – February 1928; A. M. Blackford, May 1928 – December 1928; Roscoe W. Howell, January 1929 – December 1940; C. E. Gardner, January 1941 – December 1946; James W. Oliver, January 1947 – December 1952; James M. Courtney, January 1953 – September 1960; Edwin L. Gardner, October 1960 – December 1964; Harold Beltz, January 1965 – December 1970; William K. Walker, January 1971 – October 1978; Eunice I Walker, January 1983 – December 1988; Norman O. Lambert, January 1989 – December 2000; Jim Courtney, January 2001 to present.

It’s interesting to note that four sets of father/sons have served as county commissioners. C.E. Gardner and Edwin L. Gardner each served in District #3; Albert S. Tauck and Rod Tauck (current commissioner) served in District #1; M. A. Markuson and Milton T. Markuson served consecutive terms as commissioners in District #2 that spanned 35 years. Finally, James M. Courtney and James E. (Jim) Courtney (current commissioner) served for District #3. One husband and wife team served as commissioner for district #3, Eunice Walker (the only woman commissioner in Carter County) was appointed to fill the remaining term held by her husband, William K. Walker, when he passed in 1978.

Honored to be the Marshals for the Days of ‘85 Parade this year are the current county commissioners—James E. Courtney, Steve Rosencranz, and Rod Tauck. Also serving will be former commissioners – Milton T. Markuson, Bill Loehding, and Luther Waterland.

Carter County will host an open house at the Carter County Courthouse on Friday, August 11, 2017 form 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Join the county commissioners, other elected officials, and employees of the county in this celebration. Cake and iced tea will be served.