Wilbur Bion Medley

Jeff Davis County 1948-1949, 1956-1972

Sheriff Wilbur Bion Medley

Wilbur Bion Medley was born January 13, 1909 on the DO Medley Ranch in Fort Davis, Texas and died April 14, 1985 in Fort Davis, Texas.

He married Mary Isabelle Bloys in November 1931. Both were from West Texas pioneering families settling in Jeff Davis County in the 1880’s.

Medley continued the family tradition of “cowboying” until he went into law enforcement in 1937, where he began as a Deputy located in Valentine under Sheriff Walker before becoming Sheriff himself in 1948. He resigned in 1949 to return to ranching in the Valentine area, and was again Deputy Sheriff in Valentine, Texas under his successor, Sheriff Tom Gray. Following ranching he served on the Fort Stockton Police Force from 1954 to 1956 before returning to Jeff Davis County to run for election as Sheriff in 1956.

Following his retirement in 1973, Sheriff Medley came full circle as Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Wid McCutcheon in Valentine, Texas from 1974 until his death in 1985.

Pictured:
1) Deputy Sheriff Medley, with wife Mary, 1937-1941, in Valentine, Texas.
2) US Customs Mounted River Patrol, 1941- 1943, El Paso and Valentine, Texas
3) US Navy Shore Patrol 1943-1945, San Diego, California
4) US Customs Mounted River Patrol, 1947- 1947, Presidio, Texas
5) Sheriff Jeff Davis County 1948-1949, Fort Davis, Texas
6) Sheriff Jeff Davis County 1956-1973, Fort Davis, Texas
7) Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Wid McCutcheon, 1974-1985, Valentine, Texas

Wilbur Bion Medley

Wilbur Bion Medley photo courtesy of Carl C. Williams collection

Medley collage