Officials joined Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons to dedicate a segment of State Route 446 in Boyle as the H.M. “Mack” Grimmett Memorial Highway.
Rep. Robert Sanders, Bolivar County Board of Supervisors President Larry King and Boyle Mayor Thomas Taylor joined Commissioner Simmons to honor the beloved former Bolivar County Sheriff Mack Grimmett. The dedication ceremony was held at Peavine Place in Boyle on Dec. 13.
“Dedicating a section of SR 446 here in Bolivar County in Mack Grimmett’s name is a fitting tribute to man that really looked out for his community no matter where he was in life. This is an individual who, as Bolivar County Sheriff, left his door open for anyone no matter the day or time,” said Commissioner Simmons. “Now, when future generations travel this stretch of roadway and see his name on these signs, they will be educated on the service Mack provided to Bolivar County. On behalf of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, I appreciate everyone involved in helping make this happen.”
H. M. “Mack” Grimmett was born in Skene, Mississippi to Joe and Blanche Grimmett. Mack was one of eight brothers and sisters, all growing up and working their father’s 40-acre farm in Skene. In 1950, he was in the fields chopping cotton when a friend came by saying he was headed to join the Army. Mack yelled back, “Hold up, I’m going with you.”
In 1951, Mack received orders to be shipped to the combat zone in Korea where he first experienced the fear of military warfare. In Korea he was a Senior Parachutist with the 187th Regimented Combat Team and received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Good Conduct Medal and Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars. From Korea he headed to Japan where he received more training before heading back to the United States where he served as First Sergeant and Field First Sergeant at Fort Dix in New Jersey.
In 1957, Mack was selected by the Department of the Army to go to Camp Desert Rock, Nevada to participate and witness an atomic bomb explosion. He and other G.I.’s were two miles from the point of detonation where he witnessed something he never thought an “old country boy from Skene” would ever experience and a part of history he was proud to have participated. As he explained it, “I was more or less a guinea pig. I was able to see my first atomic bomb explosion.”
From there, Mack went to Hawaii and was stationed at Schofield Barracks serving with the 25th Infantry Division for 39 months. During his 14-year military career, Mack earned and received numerous medals including the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, Carbine Bar and Rifle Bar and the Parachutist Badge.
In 1964, Mack received an Honorable Discharge from the Army and has repeatedly said, “It gave me more than it took away.” He felt every person involved in the military should be honored and respected, during and after their service to this country. Upon his return from the Army to Bolivar County, he was engaged in various businesses and occupations before joining the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department under then Sheriff L. B. Williams as a road deputy and later as a Criminal Investigator.
In 1979, Mack ran for Sheriff, was elected and took office in January 1980, where he proudly served the citizens of Bolivar County for 32 years. Mack always maintained an open door policy at his office. He insisted on fairness and impartiality, and to demonstrate conduct apart from that was never tolerated. He believed in service to all the people, no matter race or religion.
During his tenure, Mack brought about many positive changes to law enforcement throughout the county. He was appointed to serve on various committees under Governor William Winter. Governor Kirk Fordice appointed Mack to serve on the committee to study the overcrowding conditions of county jails in the State of Mississippi which helped bring about the Regional Jail Concept that the State of Mississippi operates under. He was appointed by U. S. Attorney Jim Greenlee along with two other Sheriffs to serve as a member of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force after the events of 9/11.
Through Mack’s leadership and determination, as well as the support and efforts from the Board of Supervisors and the citizens of Bolivar County, the Bolivar County Regional Correctional Facility was conceived, implemented and subsequently constructed in 1999. In December 2013, a housing unit was named in his honor, the H. M. “Mack” Grimmett Housing Unit. Mack retired as Sheriff of Bolivar County in December 2011.
Mack was married to Lynette Wright Grimmett. His children include two sons, Scott Grimmett and H. M. Grimmett, Jr. (Tina), and two daughters, Lori Grimmett Facciolini and Kelly Grimmett Smith (William), and two step-daughters, Brandy Johnson and Beth Bell. He had 10 grandchildren, Jolie Facciolini Gischer, Hannah Grimmett, Sarah Grimmett, Jordan Smith, Laine Smith, Mary Hays Bell, Rossie Bell, Shelby Bramlett, Tyler Bramlett and Alexis Green.
Per Senate Bill No. 2634, the segment of SR 446 in Bolivar County extending one mile east from its intersection with Shaw-Skene Rd., to its intersection of Gilbert Rd., is designated and shall be known as the H.M. “Mack” Grimmett Memorial Highway.
For more information about MDOT, visit GoMDOT.com.
