Cassidy Pays Tribute to Former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Hilton

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor honoring former Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton who was tragically killed on Monday. Sheriff Hilton's sense of duty and service to his community are reflected in his 50-year career in law enforcement.

"Sheriff Hilton was a sheriff in every positive, meaningful sense of the word," said Dr. Cassidy.

"He was steady. He was committed. He was there to answer the call when the community needed him," continued Dr. Cassidy.

Cassidy's remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Mr. President, I rise today to honor my good friend William Hilton, who was tragically killed on Monday.

William was a great Sheriff. Safe, steady, committed, always there when his community needed him. That kind of service is more than just a job-it's a calling.

William lived that calling every single day.

He was also a devoted husband to his wife Billie, a loving father to Shane and Christy, and a proud grandfather to Slade.

Behind a man who carried such a heavy responsibility was a strong family-one who loved him, supported him, and stood by him through long, difficult, often seven-day work weeks.

He was a true servant. A man others leaned on. As Sheriff Wood, his deputy and mentee, said: "I talked to him almost every day. If I had any questions, who else could I ask but him?"

That tells you everything you need to know about William. He just had a lot of wisdom.

Even though he retired in 2008, he was asked to come back as sheriff, and he served two more terms.

By the time he retired for good in 2020, he had served in law enforcement for fifty years.

He could have lived comfortably in retirement, but he chose to come back because he had a sense of duty.

In 2016, there was a police ambush in Baton Rouge-a gunman killed four officers and wounded two more.

William came to a ceremony for one of them, which I appreciated.

In fact, he and I rode down to that together from Alexandria to pay homage to a fallen lawman.

And you know, there is something to be said for lawmen's realism. William certainly had it.

He told me: When you're fighting crime, it's like mowing the grass. You never stop, you just have to keep on going.

No anger, no bitterness, just a realism.

There's a quote about losing a friend that says, "the melody he played upon the lives of those around him will never be played quite the same way again."

So, while the melody may not be played quite the same way, it will be echoed by his family, by his community, by all of us.

Mr. President, I ask now that we take a moment of silence to honor the life of William Earl Hilton.Thank you.

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