MERIDIAN —
Every quarterback loves to have that one clutch receiver who he can count on to make that third down catch that will keep the chains moving.
That clutch player is often referred to as the "go-to guy."
Walter "Mickey" Ables has been Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie's go-to guy for years.
"It didn't matter what it was or when I needed it done," said Sollie. "All I had to do was find Mickey and he saw to it the job was done and done right. We will miss him around here."
Sollie, along with a large group of co-workers at the Lauderdale County Adult Detention Facility in Meridian, honored Ables last week with a retirement party. Ables has been a corrections officer for 20 years. That period spans the time when the jail was in the white concrete-walled facility on top of the Lauderdale County Court House. In 1997 the prisoners and staff were moved to their current location in downtown Meridian.
"It was terrible up there," Ables said of the almost medieval surroundings. "There was no way to keep prisoners adequately up there. I'm so glad we were finally able to get out of there."
Ables has worked for the last three sheriffs: Tom Miller, Gunnis Hill and Billy Sollie. Now 65, Ables will go home and take it easy. But deep down he really isn't ready to leave his co-workers — people he refers to as his second family.
"I will miss the people I've worked with the most," Ables said. "We are a close bunch here and for those I've known for many years, it does get hard saying good-bye."
Ables was presented with a plaque from Sollie outlining his work over two decades. He was also given a jail discharge, much like any prisoner who is released from jail — much to the laughter of those in attendance.
"There were stretches where I spent more time here at the jail than I did with my own family," Ables noted.
"The first time I ever laid eyes on Mickey he was holding a campaign sign for my opposition before an election," Sollie said laughing.
Now, when Sollie and everyone else looks around the jail for that go-to guy, Mickey won't be there. Someone else will have to fill that role and it may be quite some time before that person steps forward. Nevertheless, Ables just hopes when jailers and the sheriff do look for him, they remember the things he tried to bring to the jail.
"I hope they believe I brought a level of professionalism to the jail," Ables said. "I also hope they think I'm deserving of this retirement. I've worked hard all these years, given my best. So I hope they will appreciate that."
Judging by the crowd that showed up to wish him the best as he entered retirement, Ables doesn't have anything to worry about.
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Star of The Week: Walter ‘Mickey’ Ables Submitted photo
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Star of The Week: Walter ‘Mickey’ Ables
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