Retired Belmont County Sheriff Thomas C. McCort of Morristown died April 8, 2020 at his home.

He was born February 3, 1941 in Malaga, OH, the eldest child of Thomas F. and Mary Martha Graham McCort.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Ressler McCort, whom he married in 1982; three sons, Alex McCort, Erik McCort and Aaron McCort; four grandchildren, Nick (Sara) McCort, Erika McCort, Madison McCort and Megan McCort; three great-grandsons, Carson, Christopher and Brantley McCort; one sister, Rhea Hupp; three brothers, John (Cathy) McCort, Patrick McCort and Brian (Debbie) McCort; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Tom graduated from Beallsville High School in 1959 and enlisted in the US Army in 1960. He graduated from Army OCS in 1962 and immediately enrolled in Parachute Training School at Ft. Benning, GA. He then trained and graduated from the US Army's Special Warfare Center, earning his Green Beret in 1964. He went on to serve in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1976. He earned a bachelor's degree from West Liberty State College later in life.

Tom's career in law enforcement spanned 34 years. While serving as Chief Constable of the Union Township/Morristown Police Department, he received Ohio's first Distinguished Law Enforcement Service Award. He successfully campaigned for the democratic nomination for Belmont County Sheriff in 1984 and was elected to that leadership post in the general election that year. He went on to serve as sheriff for 20 years, choosing to retire in 2005.

Tom was an avid reader, student of history and sought-after public speaker, often relating Morristown and Belmont County folklore and stories of local natives like Judge Isaac C. Parker. He loved his adopted hometown of Morristown and promoted it wherever he went. Tom had an ability to connect with all people and believed one can learn something from every person. He could strike up a conversation with anyone at any time, and often did. He enjoyed meeting new people who quickly became friends and logged thousands of miles traveling the country on his Moto Guzzi motorcycle.

Tom was active in various fraternal and community organizations during his lifetime. He was a 32 ^nd Degree Mason, having been raised in the Somerton Masonic Lodge in 1971. He was a member and Past Master of Kirkwood Masonic Lodge No. 446, and past District Deputy for the 23 ^rd Masonic District. He was also a member of Ocracoke, NC Lodge 0747. Tom also served a term as the Southeast Region representative for the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association and had been an instructor in the local peace officer's training academy. He was a member of Thoburn United Methodist Church, St. Clairsville.

Tom credited his success to the people around him:  his family, friends, the campaign workers who became friends, the sheriff's office staff, and everyone in between. And while he is often praised and remembered for his career, knowledge and affable personality, the compliment he treasured the most was given by a classmate, who said that he was always kind.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Morristown Historic Preservation Association, P.O. Box 102, Morristown, OH 43759.

Once the present concerns are over, Tom's life will be properly celebrated at a place and time to be announced. In the meantime, his family asks that you remember him by sharing a story of Tom with someone you know.  Arrangements are entrusted to Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville.