By MITCH TRAPHAGEN
mitch@observernews.net
RUSKIN — Retired Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Major Larry Terry passed away on Tuesday, July 6. He was 69 years old.
Major Terry, a 34-year veteran of the HCSO was the commanding officer of the District IV office in Ruskin from 1999 until his retirement in 2003.
Terry was known as an officer who exemplified law enforcement. At District IV, he placed a strong emphasis on officers becoming involved in the communities they served. He was also an avid outdoorsman and fisherman. Upon his retirement, his staff in Ruskin presented him with a fishing pole.
He was succeeded by Major Jerry York, who retired in 2007. Upon taking the helm from Terry, York commented that he had “big shoes to fill.” Major Ronald Hartley is the current District IV commanding officer.
“He was a unique individual,” York said last week. “Probably one of the smartest cops I know. He had that uncanny “sixth” sense about him that allowed him to see things from perspectives and angles that most people never thought of. I worked for him off and on since the late seventies and then I was humbled to replace him at district 4. He taught me much. He was my boss, my mentor, my coach, my teacher, but most of all, he was my friend.”
In addition to the HCSO, Terry was an Army veteran and a law enforcement officer with both the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. He was also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
He is survived by his wife Leilani and his son, J.B.
A visitation was held on Thursday with the funeral and internment at Culley’s Meadowwood Funeral Home in Tallahassee on Saturday. To view an online guestbook, visit www.blountcurryterraceoaks.com .