Remembering Chief Looney `highly respected, always fair'

Gary Looney is being remembered this week as a man of integrity who was dedicated to public service.

The Byhalia police chief died early Sunday at the age of 60 after a sudden illness.

"Chief Looney will be sorely missed," Byhalia Mayor Phil Malone said. "We greatly appreciated his loyalty, service and dedication to the Town of Byhalia.

"He always kept me informed and was always about making Byhalia better."

Mayor Malone said if there was an event in town, Chief Looney always attended and brought his wife, Lisa, with him.

"Whether it was a 5K, Sounds of Summer, the Christmas parade or whatever we had, he always worked with the town to protect our citizens and visitors during these events," Malone said.

The mayor was out of town when he last talked with Chief Looney.

"He called me to inform me that the police department had made a big drug bust in our city limits," Malone said. "Chief Looney said they had already caught the suspects and confiscated the drugs.

"Chief said, `We've made the Town of Byhalia a better place to live and safer for the children here.'

"Those were the last words Chief said to me."

Looney served 42 years in law enforcement, the last 12 as police chief in Byhalia.

"He was very important to our town," alderman Mike Hamblin said. "He was always fair and always tried to do what was right.

"He was a close personal friend of mine for a long time and a true professional. He was highly respected throughout our community. He will be greatly missed."

Investigator Ben Moore had worked seven years with Chief Looney at the Byhalia Police Department.

"He was an excellent boss to work for," Moore said. "He supported the officers, and he did everything he could for the Byhalia community. He treated folks fairly."

Moore said the police department employees are family, and Chief Looney was the boiler going out in the basement of the courthouse causing space heaters to be used, and the street construction for landscaping around the periphery of the courthouse.

The replacing of the boiler required a four-week lead time, then it has to be assembled on site, said Hall. But, once the boiler is replaced, it will operate more efficiently, he said.

The boiler is gas-operated to generate steam for the radiators.

The clock man has arrived to look at the mechanics of the courthouse clock, which will have new gears, hands and shafts all operated electronically. The clocks will have chimes.

Hall said March 1 is a possible date for the arrival of the boiler equipment. The old boiler lasted 25 years, he said.

Also, some structural support for the roof and cupola scaffold will be built inside the courtroom while construction is taking place up under the roof.

Most of the cornice work has been completed, according to chancery clerk Chuck Thomas. Some metal was removed from the roof February 26 and plywood decking laid on the west side of the roof.

"heart and soul of the police department."

"He was not just the chief," Moore said. "He would do anything for anybody ­  in the department or in the community."

The goal for the department will be to continue Chief Looney's legacy.

"It's tough, but we will get through it," Moore said. "He worked hard to get the department to where it is today, and get the crime down in our town. We want to keep his good work going."

Chief Looney's funeral service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Holly Springs Funeral Home. Visitation is Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery.

For his complete obituary, click here.