ARDMORE, Ala. — A fixture in the Limestone County law enforcement and public service field has died. The Ardmore AL/TN Police Department announced the passing of former Captain Gary Daly on Sunday.
"Gary worked under the late William 'Doc' Oliver and under their tenure the police department flourished," the department said in a social media post.
Daly was also elected as a Limestone County Commissioner several times between 1986 and 2014. His son, Collin Daly, now holds the office of commission chairman.
Collin acknowledged his father's passing happened Saturday night, writing, "he was a textbook example of a public servant." He added that they may not have always agreed, but he shared a respect for his father, one that was "more than anyone else."
He also shared a story to his Facebook followers about something a man told him about Gary the first time Collin ran for office (edited for clarity):
"The person told me how he wasn’t always on the right side of the law. He said he [Gary] came to arrest him at his house and his kids were home. He … told [the] kids … they were doing some investigation work and 'we need your dad’s help.' He said, 'Your dad never put me in handcuffs, and when we went out, he said get in the front seat.' He told me his kids were looking out the window as we drove away. [Gary] said, 'Let’s go to town, sign your papers, and I will bring you back home.' … He said, 'That was the point I turned my life around.'"
Memorial arrangements are pending.
