Family, friends recall Precinct 1 constable's dedication, courage - Denton Record Chronicle

Precinct 1 Constable James "Jim" Dotson, whom many call a "fixture" in Denton County, died at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton on Wednesday night.

"My dad would do anything for anybody," said Chris Dotson, the youngest of Dotson's three children.

"I remember him getting everyone together at home after he got off work from the Denton Police Department and going down to Lewisville Lake and going fishing in the evenings," Chris Dotson said Thursday afternoon. "He was a hard worker, progressing throughout the Denton Police Department before retiring after 28 years there, but he also loved traveling, camping and seeing the United States."

Jim Dotson, 70, first elected as constable in 1996, had been battling cancer for more than a year and a half, family and friends said.

"It started as colon cancer and just spread to his liver and lungs," said Chris Dotson.

Many said the battle just made him that much more courageous.

"You wouldn't have ever known he was going through [cancer] and struggling so much," said Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Joe Holland. "Our offices were able to work very closely together. He was nothing but a hardworking gentleman to me."

Memories linger from time spent in law enforcement and his time in the dairy industry.

Outgoing Sheriff Benny Parkey remembers Jim Dotson coming out to his family's dairy farm when Parkey was just a "young boy."

"I first saw Jim when he came out to work on our milk tanks. He worked for a refrigeration company," Parkey said. "He was a good-hearted man. Everyone knew Jim."

Jay Seiler, president of the Denton Police Officers Association, released a statement Thursday.

"Constable Dotson was well respected in the law enforcement community for his professionalism, honesty, dedication and exemplary service to the office he held," Seiler wrote. "He will be missed by the law enforcement community and the community he served for more than 40 years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Constable Jim Dotson."

Following his 28-year career with the Denton police, Dotson spent his last 16 years serving Denton County as a constable.

"He was a prince of a man, and we're going to miss him," said Denton County Judge Mary Horn.

Jim Dotson is survived by his wife, Barbara; his three children, Ginger Harvey, James E. Dotson Jr. and Chris Dotson; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren, according to family members.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday in the DeBerry chapel, with the Rev. Buddy Owens officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.

Staff writer Bj Lewis contributed to this report.

MEGAN GRAY can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is mgray@dentonrc.com.