Recognizing Congressional Patriot Award Recipient Tom Watt

Floor Speech

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Mr. FALLON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sheriff Tom Watt of Denison, Texas, and present him with the Congressional Patriot Award. Tom currently serves as the chief law enforcement officer for Grayson County, and he has dedicated himself to serving and protecting our community.

Tom was born at Selfridge Air Force Base in Harrison Township, Michigan. He began his lengthy law enforcement career in 1979 as a Corrections Officer for the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. In 1981, Tom began serving as a civilian patrol officer for the Sherman Police Department. For his outstanding public service and excellence, he was selected to serve as Sherman's Chief of Police in 2004, a position he held for nearly nine years. Tom briefly retired in 2013, but was drawn back to public service when then-Sheriff Keith Gary asked him to become his Chief Deputy, which Tom gladly accepted. When Mr. Gary retired in 2016, Tom was appointed by the Grayson County Commissioner's Court to complete his term. He was later elected to serve as the duly elected Sheriff for Grayson County and will retire at the end of this year.

For his extensive efforts to protect and uplift our community, Tom has been recognized on several occasions. In 2019, Tom received the Community Champion Award from the Texoma Health Foundation for his leadership on the issue of mental health services. He also received the Dr. Don Rogers Award from the Texoma Behavioral Health Leadership Team. Tom currently serves on the board of the Texoma Regional Police Academy and the Texoma Law Enforcement Leadership Group. In his free time, he enjoys bowling, golfing, and playing pinball. I am proud to recognize Tom today for making a positive impact on the world around us, and I wish him continued success for many years to come.

It is an honor to bestow Tom with the Patriot Award for his exceptional service to our Nation and the people of North Texas.

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