In a law enforcement career that has spanned 35 years, Sheriff William Earl Hilton has let his faith guide him.
ALEXANDRIA – In a law enforcement career that has spanned 35 years, Sheriff William Earl Hilton has let his faith guide him.
“My faith has always been a big part of my life and my work,” said Hilton, who has served Rapides Parish as sheriff since 1992. “I wonder at times what it would be like if everybody acted like Christians and did what was right?
“There would be far less crime,” he said. “And people would be able to get along so much better with their neighbors.”
While Hilton grew up in a law enforcement family, his parents, both Southern Baptists, made sure church was an integral part of his life, and taught him Christian values and morals. Some of his fondest memories, as a young boy growing up, centered on activities at Lone Star Baptist Church.
“We went to church twice on Sunday and Wednesday evening,” he said. “I sang in the choir, went on wiener roasts, and participated in the cake walks. I always looked forward to going to church.”
Throughout his career, he has used the lessons learned from his parents as well as those gained from his church upbringing in his dealings with the public, the people who work for him, and even with his own family.
“I remember the way my father treated people,” he said. “Especially older adults and children. He instilled in me this lesson … whatever you can do for a kid, do it. And more often than not, they need all the help they can get.”
Today, according to Hilton, many kids are crying out for help.
A lot of people who grew up in the mid-60s (the hippie generation) have kids, who are starting to have grandkids. The offspring of those 60s parents, according to Hilton, don’t know how to be “a momma or a daddy.”
“Many were never instilled with Christian or moral values. They were allowed to do as they pleased, and they never had any structure in their lives,” he said. “Now, they are having their own children, and their children are just left to fend for themselves. They have no one there to guide them through the pitfalls of life.
“Therefore, they stay out late at night, get into trouble, struggle in school,” he said. “About the only real guidance they get is in the classroom from a teacher or in church.
They don’t get that discipline at home and have very little structure at home.
“This is why you see so many kids out on the streets at night,” he said. “I hate saying this, but a lot get the only discipline, structure, and a hot meal there at school from teachers and school officials.”
Fourteen years ago, Hilton began the Louisiana Youth Academy boot camp, which was designed to assist many of these children to get a little structure back in their lives and to learn respect and discipline.
“We don’t force religion on them,” Hilton said. “But we do teach them to respect God and to know God. We have a chaplain who comes and holds services every week, and they are taught the meaning of respect. ”
After a short time in the program, most of the kids say Grace before each meal. “I would say about 99 percent of the youth thank God before they eat their meal,” he said.
The program has proven to be a huge success.
“When I started this 14 years ago, I didn’t have any idea if it would succeed or fail,” said Hilton. “But has proven to be a total success. I believe we have helped a bunch of these kids to straighten out their lives and head down the right path.”
The youth academy is just one of many successful accomplishments he can look back on, and be proud of.
“I’ve accomplished everything I wanted. Actually I’ve accomplished more than I thought I ever would,” he said. “It is time for me to spend more time doing other things.
Does this mean Hilton is “riding off into his sunset?”
“Oh no, I am a very high-energy person. I don’t plan on totally retiring. I want to spend more time with my family,” he said.
“I am also an avid hunter and fisherman. I have a camp in Flatwoods where I often spend a lot of time by myself. There is always work to do, and it is where I go for my quiet time. Out there, I am able to find out what is in my soul and what He is trying to do with my life,” Hilton said.
“I like to get on my tractor,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, but I seem to find a real peace when I am out there bush hogging.”
He is also very involved with a number of local and state boards and committees, which he will continue to serve on.
But there is also one other matter he wants to address – Church.
“We, I, have been so busy, I’ve let church slide,” he confesses. “It is time Billie (Billie Faye Gunter Hilton, his wife of 34 years) and I become more involved in church once more. I’ve missed it.”