They lined the room and applauded a man many have worked alongside and respected for 50 years.

Area law enforcement and family members paid tribute Wednesday afternoon to Lawrence County Special Deputy David "Papa Bear" Brown for his years of service to the sheriff's office and to the community.

Brown, 75,

got his badge and gun in 1958, back when Carl Rose was the sheriff. Over the years he has pulled road duty,

made prisoner transports and "done anything we have asked him to do," said Sheriff Tim Sexton, who doesn't know of anyone else in Lawrence County who has had such a lengthy career in law enforcement "He's a great example. He has never asked for anything for his service all these years. He's gracious and humble. It's nice to have people we can count on. He is a true public servant."

"You don't know what this means to me," Brown told his assembled colleagues. "I love every one of you."

Brown's record of service began in 1943, when he joined the U.S. Marines. He spent the next seven years as a scout and sniper in tours of duty that would take him throughout the South Pacific. He was wounded in combat and was honored with the Purple Heart.

His length of service to law enforcement is matched by his 55 years of marriage to his wife, Lenora Hart Brown.

"He's as good a husband as anyone could have, just exceptionally loving and understanding. I could go on and on," Lenora Brown said of David Brown. "And he's been a good father. We've had 55 years together through good times and bad times."

Two of his sons, David and Tim, followed him into law enforcement. Both worked at the Sheriff's Office for several years before going on to other work. Tim Brown is now a corrections officer at the federal prison in Summit, Ky.

Asked what his most vivid memories were of the last 50 years, Brown shook his head.

"I have so many it's hard to say. I've only drawn my weapon three times in self defense," Brown said. "I had to talk a man out of killing his family twice. That was back in 1974 or '75. I had to talk him out of his weapon. And then once we had three subjects who robbed a couple of old folks at a store out on (State Route) 650. We chased them into the strip mines and captured them there."

Brown attributes his longevity with the sheriff's office to a basic love of people. "I enjoy what I do. I just do it for the public."