An excerpt from the book, Some Gave All, available on Amazon
By Mike Simmons
58-year-old W. C. Rigby, known to everyone as “Clint,” was an icon in rural northern Escambia County. He had served the community as Justice of the Peace, Deputy Sheriff, and Constable. Everyone in northern Escambia County, Florida, knew two things about Clint – he was always there to help and serve, and he was a strict enforcer of the law.
But he was also a dedicated husband to Aggie and father to five girls: Hayett, Maleze, Wanda, Verdelia, and Jean.
Byrneville is located four miles west of Century, Florida. On September 3, 1955, at 11:15 at night, Clint was patrolling through the quiet community when a car driven by 27-year-old Clarence Odom of Uriah, Alabama, swerved over into his lane and headed straight for the constable’s car. Rigby tried to swerve to miss him, but the car, travelling at a high rate of speed, slammed into him head-on! It then skidded 189 feet to a stop. Rigby’s car skidded 114 feet and ejected the constable onto the highway. The collision killed Odom at the scene. Constable Rigby was rushed to nearby Century Hospital with severe internal chest injuries. He died the next day[1].
After his death, his wife Aggie later became a matron at the Escambia County Jail and worked there for many years, somewhat of an icon herself.
Thank you, Constable, for your sacrifice.
Mike Simmons
[1] Officer Down Memorial Page. https://www.odmp.org/officer/18776-constable-william-clinton-rigby