Events and Activities : Sheriff Fry Memorial Dedication Ceremony to be held this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

After three years in the making, Benton County is proud to announce that it is holding a dedication ceremony for the Sheriff Leland A. “Sam” Fry Memorial. The ceremony will take place at the Benton County Courthouse on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. The public and media are invited to attend this long overdue tribute to honor Sheriff Fry. Sheriff Leland Fry was Benton County’s only law enforcement official to die in the line of duty. Sheriff Fry was shot Friday, November 4, 1938, in Garrison, Iowa, where he had gone to arrest a man. During the arrest the suspect shot Sheriff Fry, who was unarmed, in the abdomen. The suspect then committed suicide. Sheriff Fry succumbed to his injuries Saturday, November 5, 1938. Sheriff Fry was 38 years old. His tragic death was never properly memorialized. At the conclusion of the Ceremony, the public will be invited in to the Benton County Courthouse to view the Sheriff Fry historical display boards and case. The display case will tell the story of the heroic Sheriff Fry and his amazing wife, Hazel Fry. Hazel Fry was elected Sheriff in her husband’s place on Tuesday, November 8, 1938 just three days after her husband’s death. Hazel Fry was the first and only woman to be elected Sheriff in Iowa history. Light refreshments will also be served. We are especially excited to announce that a large contingency of Sheriff Fry’s descendants will be in attendance for the Ceremony. The Fry family has been indispensable during this process. This Memorial is made possible due to the efforts of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission, the Benton County Peace Officer Association, the Sheriff Fry Memorial Committee, and numerous private and public donors.