George Gillick; Was Butte County Sheriff Who Never Had Gun
George (Larry) Gillick, sheriff of Butte County for 32 years, died Thursday night at a World War II veterans’ reunion in Long Beach, county officials reported. He was 77 and died of an apparent heart attack.
Gillick, of Chico, also served as president of the California Peace Officers’ Assn. and the California State Sheriffs’ Assn. Gillick was sheriff from Jan. 8, 1951, to Jan. 3, 1983, having been elected eight times and opposed only twice.
He was known for never carrying a gun and, on one occasion, felled a fleeing criminal with a well-aimed rock.
Gillick is survived by his wife and sons Pat, general manager of the Toronto Bluejays American League baseball team, and Mitch, of Sacramento.
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