Obituary, Florida Times-Union, by Jessie-Lynne Kerr
Times-Union staff writer, May 28, 2000
Legendary lawman Dale G. Carson, Duval County's top cop for nearly three decades who once was a contender for the nation's top law enforcement post, died early Saturday at Baptist Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was 78.
Sheriff Carson was known nationally in law enforcement circles, said John Nelson, Orange Park police chief who served with him as undersheriff of Jacksonville from 1975-87. He recalled that in 1977, Sheriff Carson was on a short list of three people to be named FBI director to succeed the retiring Clarence Kelly. He was a pioneer in upgrading training and setting minimum standards for police officers nationwide.
Former Mayor and State Attorney Ed Austin, when told of Sheriff Carson's death, said, "We've lost more than a sheriff. We've lost an institution."
Gov. Leroy Collins appointed Sheriff Carson, then a clean-cut FBI agent assigned to the Jacksonville office, as Duval County sheriff in 1958. That was after Collins had suspended his predecessor, Al Cahill, after a year of grand jury investigations into bribery, gambling, illegal liquor sales and incompetence.
"Dale took over a very troubled office in the late '50s," Austin said, "and he quickly turned it into one of the finest law enforcement offices anywhere."
Voters re-elected Sheriff Carson seven times.
A proponent of Jacksonville's consolidated form of government, Sheriff Carson faced the daunting task in 1968 of merging two competitive agencies, his own sheriff's office and the old city police department. In the early '60s, his sheriff's office and the FBI had investigated corruption in the municipal department.
"Dale took those two agencies and created a masterpiece, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office," Austin said. "He was exactly the right man for the job. He did not tolerate any type of misconduct or corruption. If he found any, he cleaned it out in a hurry."
Sheriff Carson also was known for his sense of humor, Austin recalled. "He could always break the tension in some tight situation with a one-liner," he said.
"He was tough but fair, and he was the most totally honest person I've known," Austin said. "He had to make some tough and unpopular decisions, but somehow the public always knew he was acting professionally and with unquestioned integrity. He was a good friend, and I am going to miss him."
Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover began his law enforcement career with the old Jacksonville Police Department in 1966. He, too, said Sheriff Carson was one of the finest men he'd ever met and called him "a leading law enforcement figure in this country."
"Certainly Sheriff Carson was an innovator in upgrading standards and training for police officers because he knew that better standards would ultimately lead to better law enforcement," Glover said.
Glover, Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff, recalled that Sheriff Carson appointed him the department's second African-American chief when he was promoted to take over the services division.
"I guess he recognized my leadership abilities and started me on my staff career," Glover said, "so he was somewhat of a mentor to me."
Glover noted that Sheriff Carson was sensitive to the issue of hiring and promoting black police officers and would meet with the black officers' association regularly.
"I always thought that was quite courageous of him at that particular time," Glover said.
Since becoming sheriff, Glover would meet Sheriff Carson often for lunch.
Nelson, the former undersheriff, said he has known Sheriff Carson for 42 years.
"He had so many accomplishments in law enforcement, but the one he was proudest of was consolidating the two departments," he said. "He really made an impact on law enforcement here and nationally. He was even involved with Interpol, helping to raise police standards around the world.
"He was so much fun to be with," Nelson said. "He just looked at the bright side of everything. He loved his family and his church. He was a dear friend. We had lunch together two weeks ago. I'll sure miss him."
A native of Amsterdam, Ohio, Sheriff Carson was a decorated Army veteran of World War II. After the war, he worked as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, while pursuing his bachelor's degree in criminology from Ohio State University. He spent two years as a detective with the B&O Railroad before joining the FBI in 1951, which brought him to Jacksonville.
But there was more to his life than law enforcement. His widow, Doris N. Carson, retired obstetrician and gynecologist and former chief of staff at Baptist Medical Center, said the biggest things in his life were his eight grandchildren.
"He loved doing things with and for his grandchildren," she said.
Until the past few years, the Carsons played golf every Sunday afternoon at Timuquana Country Club.
"And we used to hike and camp out along the Appalachian Trail near our summer home in North Carolina," Doris Carson recalled. The retired sheriff also loved to hunt, go power boating and dabble in photography.
Sheriff Carson was active in starting the Police Athletic League and served on the board of Riverside Tradition House, a ministry for recovering alcoholics.
In addition to his widow, Sheriff Carson is survived by two sons, Dale Craig Carson of Jacksonville and Christopher L. Carson of Keystone Heights; a daughter, Cyndi Jackson of Jacksonville; two brothers, Jim Carson of Sacramento, Calif., and John Carson of Denver; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Presbyterian Church, where Sheriff Carson was an elder and taught Sunday school for 30 years. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will participate. His cremated remains will be interred at Oaklawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Police Athletic League, 2165 W. 33rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, or Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205.
Times-Union staff writer, May 28, 2000
Legendary lawman Dale G. Carson, Duval County's top cop for nearly three decades who once was a contender for the nation's top law enforcement post, died early Saturday at Baptist Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was 78.
Sheriff Carson was known nationally in law enforcement circles, said John Nelson, Orange Park police chief who served with him as undersheriff of Jacksonville from 1975-87. He recalled that in 1977, Sheriff Carson was on a short list of three people to be named FBI director to succeed the retiring Clarence Kelly. He was a pioneer in upgrading training and setting minimum standards for police officers nationwide.
Former Mayor and State Attorney Ed Austin, when told of Sheriff Carson's death, said, "We've lost more than a sheriff. We've lost an institution."
Gov. Leroy Collins appointed Sheriff Carson, then a clean-cut FBI agent assigned to the Jacksonville office, as Duval County sheriff in 1958. That was after Collins had suspended his predecessor, Al Cahill, after a year of grand jury investigations into bribery, gambling, illegal liquor sales and incompetence.
"Dale took over a very troubled office in the late '50s," Austin said, "and he quickly turned it into one of the finest law enforcement offices anywhere."
Voters re-elected Sheriff Carson seven times.
A proponent of Jacksonville's consolidated form of government, Sheriff Carson faced the daunting task in 1968 of merging two competitive agencies, his own sheriff's office and the old city police department. In the early '60s, his sheriff's office and the FBI had investigated corruption in the municipal department.
"Dale took those two agencies and created a masterpiece, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office," Austin said. "He was exactly the right man for the job. He did not tolerate any type of misconduct or corruption. If he found any, he cleaned it out in a hurry."
Sheriff Carson also was known for his sense of humor, Austin recalled. "He could always break the tension in some tight situation with a one-liner," he said.
"He was tough but fair, and he was the most totally honest person I've known," Austin said. "He had to make some tough and unpopular decisions, but somehow the public always knew he was acting professionally and with unquestioned integrity. He was a good friend, and I am going to miss him."
Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover began his law enforcement career with the old Jacksonville Police Department in 1966. He, too, said Sheriff Carson was one of the finest men he'd ever met and called him "a leading law enforcement figure in this country."
"Certainly Sheriff Carson was an innovator in upgrading standards and training for police officers because he knew that better standards would ultimately lead to better law enforcement," Glover said.
Glover, Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff, recalled that Sheriff Carson appointed him the department's second African-American chief when he was promoted to take over the services division.
"I guess he recognized my leadership abilities and started me on my staff career," Glover said, "so he was somewhat of a mentor to me."
Glover noted that Sheriff Carson was sensitive to the issue of hiring and promoting black police officers and would meet with the black officers' association regularly.
"I always thought that was quite courageous of him at that particular time," Glover said.
Since becoming sheriff, Glover would meet Sheriff Carson often for lunch.
Nelson, the former undersheriff, said he has known Sheriff Carson for 42 years.
"He had so many accomplishments in law enforcement, but the one he was proudest of was consolidating the two departments," he said. "He really made an impact on law enforcement here and nationally. He was even involved with Interpol, helping to raise police standards around the world.
"He was so much fun to be with," Nelson said. "He just looked at the bright side of everything. He loved his family and his church. He was a dear friend. We had lunch together two weeks ago. I'll sure miss him."
A native of Amsterdam, Ohio, Sheriff Carson was a decorated Army veteran of World War II. After the war, he worked as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, while pursuing his bachelor's degree in criminology from Ohio State University. He spent two years as a detective with the B&O Railroad before joining the FBI in 1951, which brought him to Jacksonville.
But there was more to his life than law enforcement. His widow, Doris N. Carson, retired obstetrician and gynecologist and former chief of staff at Baptist Medical Center, said the biggest things in his life were his eight grandchildren.
"He loved doing things with and for his grandchildren," she said.
Until the past few years, the Carsons played golf every Sunday afternoon at Timuquana Country Club.
"And we used to hike and camp out along the Appalachian Trail near our summer home in North Carolina," Doris Carson recalled. The retired sheriff also loved to hunt, go power boating and dabble in photography.
Sheriff Carson was active in starting the Police Athletic League and served on the board of Riverside Tradition House, a ministry for recovering alcoholics.
In addition to his widow, Sheriff Carson is survived by two sons, Dale Craig Carson of Jacksonville and Christopher L. Carson of Keystone Heights; a daughter, Cyndi Jackson of Jacksonville; two brothers, Jim Carson of Sacramento, Calif., and John Carson of Denver; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Presbyterian Church, where Sheriff Carson was an elder and taught Sunday school for 30 years. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will participate. His cremated remains will be interred at Oaklawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Police Athletic League, 2165 W. 33rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, or Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205.
Obituary, Florida Times-Union, by Jessie-Lynne Kerr
Times-Union staff writer, May 28, 2000
Legendary lawman Dale G. Carson, Duval County's top cop for nearly three decades who once was a contender for the nation's top law enforcement post, died early Saturday at Baptist Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was 78.
Sheriff Carson was known nationally in law enforcement circles, said John Nelson, Orange Park police chief who served with him as undersheriff of Jacksonville from 1975-87. He recalled that in 1977, Sheriff Carson was on a short list of three people to be named FBI director to succeed the retiring Clarence Kelly. He was a pioneer in upgrading training and setting minimum standards for police officers nationwide.
Former Mayor and State Attorney Ed Austin, when told of Sheriff Carson's death, said, "We've lost more than a sheriff. We've lost an institution."
Gov. Leroy Collins appointed Sheriff Carson, then a clean-cut FBI agent assigned to the Jacksonville office, as Duval County sheriff in 1958. That was after Collins had suspended his predecessor, Al Cahill, after a year of grand jury investigations into bribery, gambling, illegal liquor sales and incompetence.
"Dale took over a very troubled office in the late '50s," Austin said, "and he quickly turned it into one of the finest law enforcement offices anywhere."
Voters re-elected Sheriff Carson seven times.
A proponent of Jacksonville's consolidated form of government, Sheriff Carson faced the daunting task in 1968 of merging two competitive agencies, his own sheriff's office and the old city police department. In the early '60s, his sheriff's office and the FBI had investigated corruption in the municipal department.
"Dale took those two agencies and created a masterpiece, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office," Austin said. "He was exactly the right man for the job. He did not tolerate any type of misconduct or corruption. If he found any, he cleaned it out in a hurry."
Sheriff Carson also was known for his sense of humor, Austin recalled. "He could always break the tension in some tight situation with a one-liner," he said.
"He was tough but fair, and he was the most totally honest person I've known," Austin said. "He had to make some tough and unpopular decisions, but somehow the public always knew he was acting professionally and with unquestioned integrity. He was a good friend, and I am going to miss him."
Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover began his law enforcement career with the old Jacksonville Police Department in 1966. He, too, said Sheriff Carson was one of the finest men he'd ever met and called him "a leading law enforcement figure in this country."
"Certainly Sheriff Carson was an innovator in upgrading standards and training for police officers because he knew that better standards would ultimately lead to better law enforcement," Glover said.
Glover, Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff, recalled that Sheriff Carson appointed him the department's second African-American chief when he was promoted to take over the services division.
"I guess he recognized my leadership abilities and started me on my staff career," Glover said, "so he was somewhat of a mentor to me."
Glover noted that Sheriff Carson was sensitive to the issue of hiring and promoting black police officers and would meet with the black officers' association regularly.
"I always thought that was quite courageous of him at that particular time," Glover said.
Since becoming sheriff, Glover would meet Sheriff Carson often for lunch.
Nelson, the former undersheriff, said he has known Sheriff Carson for 42 years.
"He had so many accomplishments in law enforcement, but the one he was proudest of was consolidating the two departments," he said. "He really made an impact on law enforcement here and nationally. He was even involved with Interpol, helping to raise police standards around the world.
"He was so much fun to be with," Nelson said. "He just looked at the bright side of everything. He loved his family and his church. He was a dear friend. We had lunch together two weeks ago. I'll sure miss him."
A native of Amsterdam, Ohio, Sheriff Carson was a decorated Army veteran of World War II. After the war, he worked as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, while pursuing his bachelor's degree in criminology from Ohio State University. He spent two years as a detective with the B&O Railroad before joining the FBI in 1951, which brought him to Jacksonville.
But there was more to his life than law enforcement. His widow, Doris N. Carson, retired obstetrician and gynecologist and former chief of staff at Baptist Medical Center, said the biggest things in his life were his eight grandchildren.
"He loved doing things with and for his grandchildren," she said.
Until the past few years, the Carsons played golf every Sunday afternoon at Timuquana Country Club.
"And we used to hike and camp out along the Appalachian Trail near our summer home in North Carolina," Doris Carson recalled. The retired sheriff also loved to hunt, go power boating and dabble in photography.
Sheriff Carson was active in starting the Police Athletic League and served on the board of Riverside Tradition House, a ministry for recovering alcoholics.
In addition to his widow, Sheriff Carson is survived by two sons, Dale Craig Carson of Jacksonville and Christopher L. Carson of Keystone Heights; a daughter, Cyndi Jackson of Jacksonville; two brothers, Jim Carson of Sacramento, Calif., and John Carson of Denver; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Presbyterian Church, where Sheriff Carson was an elder and taught Sunday school for 30 years. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will participate. His cremated remains will be interred at Oaklawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Police Athletic League, 2165 W. 33rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, or Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205.
Times-Union staff writer, May 28, 2000
Legendary lawman Dale G. Carson, Duval County's top cop for nearly three decades who once was a contender for the nation's top law enforcement post, died early Saturday at Baptist Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was 78.
Sheriff Carson was known nationally in law enforcement circles, said John Nelson, Orange Park police chief who served with him as undersheriff of Jacksonville from 1975-87. He recalled that in 1977, Sheriff Carson was on a short list of three people to be named FBI director to succeed the retiring Clarence Kelly. He was a pioneer in upgrading training and setting minimum standards for police officers nationwide.
Former Mayor and State Attorney Ed Austin, when told of Sheriff Carson's death, said, "We've lost more than a sheriff. We've lost an institution."
Gov. Leroy Collins appointed Sheriff Carson, then a clean-cut FBI agent assigned to the Jacksonville office, as Duval County sheriff in 1958. That was after Collins had suspended his predecessor, Al Cahill, after a year of grand jury investigations into bribery, gambling, illegal liquor sales and incompetence.
"Dale took over a very troubled office in the late '50s," Austin said, "and he quickly turned it into one of the finest law enforcement offices anywhere."
Voters re-elected Sheriff Carson seven times.
A proponent of Jacksonville's consolidated form of government, Sheriff Carson faced the daunting task in 1968 of merging two competitive agencies, his own sheriff's office and the old city police department. In the early '60s, his sheriff's office and the FBI had investigated corruption in the municipal department.
"Dale took those two agencies and created a masterpiece, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office," Austin said. "He was exactly the right man for the job. He did not tolerate any type of misconduct or corruption. If he found any, he cleaned it out in a hurry."
Sheriff Carson also was known for his sense of humor, Austin recalled. "He could always break the tension in some tight situation with a one-liner," he said.
"He was tough but fair, and he was the most totally honest person I've known," Austin said. "He had to make some tough and unpopular decisions, but somehow the public always knew he was acting professionally and with unquestioned integrity. He was a good friend, and I am going to miss him."
Jacksonville Sheriff Nat Glover began his law enforcement career with the old Jacksonville Police Department in 1966. He, too, said Sheriff Carson was one of the finest men he'd ever met and called him "a leading law enforcement figure in this country."
"Certainly Sheriff Carson was an innovator in upgrading standards and training for police officers because he knew that better standards would ultimately lead to better law enforcement," Glover said.
Glover, Jacksonville's first African-American sheriff, recalled that Sheriff Carson appointed him the department's second African-American chief when he was promoted to take over the services division.
"I guess he recognized my leadership abilities and started me on my staff career," Glover said, "so he was somewhat of a mentor to me."
Glover noted that Sheriff Carson was sensitive to the issue of hiring and promoting black police officers and would meet with the black officers' association regularly.
"I always thought that was quite courageous of him at that particular time," Glover said.
Since becoming sheriff, Glover would meet Sheriff Carson often for lunch.
Nelson, the former undersheriff, said he has known Sheriff Carson for 42 years.
"He had so many accomplishments in law enforcement, but the one he was proudest of was consolidating the two departments," he said. "He really made an impact on law enforcement here and nationally. He was even involved with Interpol, helping to raise police standards around the world.
"He was so much fun to be with," Nelson said. "He just looked at the bright side of everything. He loved his family and his church. He was a dear friend. We had lunch together two weeks ago. I'll sure miss him."
A native of Amsterdam, Ohio, Sheriff Carson was a decorated Army veteran of World War II. After the war, he worked as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, while pursuing his bachelor's degree in criminology from Ohio State University. He spent two years as a detective with the B&O Railroad before joining the FBI in 1951, which brought him to Jacksonville.
But there was more to his life than law enforcement. His widow, Doris N. Carson, retired obstetrician and gynecologist and former chief of staff at Baptist Medical Center, said the biggest things in his life were his eight grandchildren.
"He loved doing things with and for his grandchildren," she said.
Until the past few years, the Carsons played golf every Sunday afternoon at Timuquana Country Club.
"And we used to hike and camp out along the Appalachian Trail near our summer home in North Carolina," Doris Carson recalled. The retired sheriff also loved to hunt, go power boating and dabble in photography.
Sheriff Carson was active in starting the Police Athletic League and served on the board of Riverside Tradition House, a ministry for recovering alcoholics.
In addition to his widow, Sheriff Carson is survived by two sons, Dale Craig Carson of Jacksonville and Christopher L. Carson of Keystone Heights; a daughter, Cyndi Jackson of Jacksonville; two brothers, Jim Carson of Sacramento, Calif., and John Carson of Denver; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverside Presbyterian Church, where Sheriff Carson was an elder and taught Sunday school for 30 years. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Honor Guard will participate. His cremated remains will be interred at Oaklawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Police Athletic League, 2165 W. 33rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, or Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205.
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