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DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Former Dallas County Sheriff James Carl Bowles died in Mexia Saturday night at the age of 89.
Bowles served in the Dallas Police Department for 30 years before his election to five terms as county sheriff from 1985 until 2005. He is remembered as a good administrator who ended cronyism in the sheriff’s department and guided positive changes in the county jail during a time of overcrowding. He is also credited with providing jail inmates with assistance with drug and alcohol dependence and for encouraging inmate literacy programs.
The Dallas Morning News reports former sheriff spokesman, Ed Spencer remembered Bowles as a “man of priniciple” who was responsible with taxpayer dollars and cared deeply about his family and his Christian faith,
Bowles long career came to an end amid corruption accusations. He was indicted but the case was thrown out of court.
While with Dallas PD Bowles was assigned to the local investigation of the assasination of President Kennedy and he eventually wrote a novel on the subject.
Bowles’ wife Martha died in 2016. He spent time in assisted living before being moved to Mexia by his family.
Funeral arrangements have no been announced.
