Sheriff Bill Hemphill
Term: 1952-1968

Mr. Hemphill ws born September 23, 1917 and passed away December 30, 1998. Mr. Hemphill was the son of Floyd and Chlora L Hemphill. He was married to Freddit Akin on July 30, 1936 in Monett. He had two sons and one daughter.

Mr. Hemphill organized the Barry County Sheriff Mounted Patrol and was elected president of the Missouri Sheriff Association in 1957 and 1958. He served as president of the Missouri Sheriff Association from 1967 to 1968. He served as juvenile officer for Barry, Lawrence and Stone counties from 1968 to 1980. He was appointed U.S. Deputy Marshal in 1970.

Mr Hemphill was elected Mayor of Purdy in 1974 and served two terms during which time he was instrumental in establishing the Purdy Community Center. He was a 40-year member of the Purdy Lions Club and past member of the Cassville Rotary Club. He was active in the Republican Party and in 1988 served as an elector who cast one of Missouri's electoral votes for President George Bush.

Bill was a lifelong Barry County cattleman and farmer and owned and operated Purdy Farm Center until 1952. He was active with the Barry County Youth Camp and Fourt State Travel Chamber Club, and was a memeber of the First Baptist Church in Purdy.