(BENTON, Ky.) — Marshall County Jailer Roger Ford has announced that he will retire at the end of his current term next year, bringing to a close a career spanning nearly three decades in elected office and continuing a family legacy of service that extends more than 60 years.
Ford, who was first elected jailer in 1998, made the announcement in a Facebook post addressed to Marshall County citizens, calling it “without a doubt, the hardest decision I have ever made.”
The decision comes after what Ford described as a challenging year and a half marked by personal attacks and political opposition. However, he said the attacks ultimately weren’t the driving force behind his choice.
“The personal attacks and smear tactics didn’t instill fear in me or make me feel desperate,” Ford wrote. “Instead it made me WANT to run again, but after much prayer and consideration, God gave me peace and the ability to realize that was the wrong reason to seek reelection.”
Ford’s tenure represents the continuation of a remarkable family legacy in Marshall County law enforcement. His father, Herman Ford, served as jailer for 29½ years and was described by his son as “without question, one of the finest jailers the Commonwealth of Kentucky has ever known.”
Roger Ford worked as a deputy under his father for 6½ years before winning election as jailer. By the end of his current term, he will have served 28 years as elected jailer — bringing the Ford family’s combined service to 64 years.
“You don’t achieve that by doing things wrong,” Ford stated. “Everyday, I got up and proudly served this community, just as my father did before me.”
During his time in office, Ford said he focused on advancing technology and introducing new programs at the Marshall County Detention Center, which he praised as “one of the most exceptional facilities in the state.”
Ford expressed particular gratitude to his staff, whom he informed of his decision last week.
“I cannot express how proud I am of their hard work, dedication, and professionalism,” he wrote. “Their work is often selfless and too often under appreciated, despite the challenges they face everyday.”
He also thanked fellow jailers across Kentucky, calling them family, and noted that as a lifetime member of the Kentucky Jailers Association, he will remain involved with the organization.
Ford said he plans to spend his retirement with family, including his wife Laurie, his children and their spouses, and his grandchildren.
“Although I will miss the jail tremendously as it has been part of my home since I was six years old — it is time for a change in my personal life,” Ford wrote.
In closing his announcement, Ford thanked Marshall County citizens for their trust over seven terms in office.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve you and to continue the legacy my father began,” he said. “I will remain here to serve the community the remainder of my term and finish the Job we started.”
Ford’s post included photos from his father’s last day as Marshall County jailer and his own first day in office, noting: “It was always more than a job, it was never just an ole Jail house, it was and Is our heart and Soul!”
