Testimonials

Sacrifices Forgotten, Now Remembered

Community, Family, Police, Testimonials -

Paul Echols has made it his mission to identify police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty in years gone by in Southern Illinois. His purpose is to ensure that their sacrifices are not lost to memory. He gathers information about the circumstances of their deaths and submits their stories for inclusion in state and national memorials. I have the privilege of taking the names of these officers and tracing their descendants, in hopes of finding living family members who might wish to know that their parent, grandparent or ancestor is being honored and remembered. Some then attend the memorial ceremonies, which are quite impressive.

These photos are of Constable Earl Dixon with his children and of the Police Memorial Ceremony in Springfield, Illinois in 2014 honoring Dixon and other officers who lost their lives. Constable Dixon lived in Mounds, Illinois and was killed in the line of duty in 1935, leaving a widow and five young children. I was able to find Mr. Dixon’s only surviving child, age 87. What a joy it was to speak with him and explain that his father’s sacrifice was remembered and he would be honored at the state and national level.

I am a retired police officer and now full-time criminal justice instructor. I have known Juli for many years and have always admired her support of crime victim rights. When I started researching historic cases of police officers killed in the line of duty (for nomination to the state and national memorials), I ran into the problem of trying to find the families of these fallen heroes. I reached out to Juli for her help. She immediately agreed to volunteer her time and expertise. Some of these officers were killed over 100 years ago, so it seemed like an impossible task. Amazingly, she was able to find relatives in most of these cases. The families are elated that their loved ones lost so long ago can now be honored and recognized for their sacrifice. Thanks Juli, on behalf of all these police families!  (Paul Echols, 2015)

He lost his life in the line of duty in 1935 at Mounds, Illinois.

Constable Earl Dixon lost his life in the line of duty in 1935 at Mounds, Illinois.

 

Photo by Paul Echols, 2014

Police Memorial Ceremony, Springfield, Illinois

Testimonials: Sheryl Shetley, Landman

Land Manager, Land owner, Landmen, Testimonials - , , , , -

We appreciate all you guys do & we can sleep at night knowing if  “Search & Genealogy Services” can’t find them, they can’t be found & we can pass them on as petition recommended without reservations as to whether we’ve done all that can be done. Thank you all for that & the great service we get from you.

AND… Thank you for reporting to us on urgent matters as quick as you do & giving us the heads-up on out of the ordinary situations & details.

When people do a great job, I like to tell them so…..

Keep up the great work…….

Sheryl Shetley, Contract Landman
Texhoma Land Svc., Inc. representing
Antero Resources Appalachian Corp.

Testimonials: Steve Hopkins, Land Manager, Earlsboro Energies Corporation, Oklahoma City

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“Juli has found mineral owners or their heirs who have been missing since the 1930’s. Her service allows me to focus on what I’m best at, while she finds missing owners and provides me with all of the back-up documentation for clear title. I’m more effective in a competitive lease environment and it makes the pooling process go much smoother when I can testify that I’ve done absolutely everything I can to find someone! She found a land owner for me in one month after a private investigator searched for 2 years and failed. Not only did she find the owner, she identified all 42 of the owner’s surviving heirs!”

– Steve Hopkins, Land Manager, Earlsboro Energies Corporation, Oklahoma City