Henderson County Sheriffs
1. Paul Zollie Hill (1924-1979)served as sheriff from 1956 to 1966. For more information, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/law-enforcement-fire-departments-rescue-squad/
2. James Franklin Kilpatrick (1920-1976) served as sheriff from 1966 to 1970. He was born in Henderson County, the son of Luther Franklin Kilpatrick and Bertha Josephine Orr Kilpatrick, and the husband of Ada Marie Leverette. He established Kilpatrick & Sons Upholstery in Hendersonville. His grave site is at Shepherd Memorial Park in Henderson County. He was sheriff during three of the most horrific crimes and tragedies in Henderson County history. He spent much of his time as sheriff investigating the unsolved triple murder case that occurred a few months before his election. He was also sheriff on July 19, 1967, when a Piedmont Airlines Flight 22 collided with a Cessna over Hendersonville, killing 82 aboard both planes. Then in May 1968, Edward J. Thompson Jr. began a crime spree in which he kidnapped nine people, raped five and killed two. The violent crimes started in Henderson County and continued across North Carolina and in Roanoke, Va., where Thompson shot and killed a couple and kidnapped three girls.
Hendersonville Police Chief
William V. “Bill” Powers, son of Otis Powers, served as Hendersonville Police Chief from 1956 to 1978. Powers would later serve as the Department Head of the Public Works department before retiring in the late 1980s. He died in 2010. He was the second longest-serving police chief, after his father. For more information, visit http://www.thosshepherd.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=739525&fh_id=10745
Henderson County Fire Departments
During the 1960s, volunteer fire departments will form in Edneyville, Mills River, Mountain Home and Etowah-Horse Shoe.
Edneyville Fire and Rescue was organized in 1958 in a community meeting at Edneyville United Methodist Church. The Edneyville Grange purchased the first fire truck, and the department incorporated in 1962. The first chief was A.V. Reese. Edneyville Fire and Rescue responds out of three stations: the main station in Edneyville and stations in Fruitland and on Sugarloaf Mountain. The fire district covers about 46 square miles that includes the communities of Edneyville and Fruitland. It is a combination paid and volunteer department with about two paid employees and 49 volunteers. For more information, visit http://edneyvillefire.com/
Etowah-Horse Shoe Volunteer Fire and Rescue was incorporated in 1964 by a group of concerned residents. The first chief was Jim Hawkins. Etowah-Horse Shoe Volunteer Fire and Rescue responds out of four stations: the main station in Etowah and stations in Big Willow, Horse Shoe and Brickyard Road. The fire district covers about 20 square miles that includes the communities of Horse Shoe, Etowah and sections of the traditional Big Willow community. It is a combination paid and volunteer department with about eight paid employees and 42 volunteers. For more information, visit http://www.etowahhorseshoefire.com/index.html
Mountain Home Fire and Rescue was organized in 1964 when residents of Mountain Home and the Grimesdale subdivision met to organize a volunteer fire department. The department was incorporated in 1965. The first fire chief was Harvey Raines. Mountain Home Fire and Rescue responds out of three stations with the main station in Mountain Home and stations in Clear Creek and Rugby. The fire district covers 17.6 square miles that includes the communities of Mountain Home, Balfour, Clear Creek, the old Hillgirt community, Naples and Rugby. It is a combination paid and volunteer department with about 13 paid employees and 25 volunteers. For more information, visit http://mtnhomefire.com/about-us/
Mills River Fire and Rescue was organized in 1968 when the Mills River Lions Club met to discuss a fire department for the community. The first fire chief was Gerald Fowler. Mills River Fire and Rescue responds out of four stations: the main station in the town of Mills River and stations on Fanning Fields Road, North Mills River Road and N.C. 280. The fire district covers about 30 square miles, plus sections of Pisgah National Forest within Henderson County. This area includes the town of Mills River, the traditional community of Mills River, Pisgah National Forest and the old Boyleston community. It is a combination paid and volunteer department with about five paid employees and 50 volunteers. For more information, visit http://www.mrfd.org/