Alumnus and past Alumni Association Board of Directors member Huey “Hoss” Mack has been honored by the Alabama Sheriff’s Association as its Sheriff of the Year for 2021.
First elected Baldwin County Sheriff in 2007, Mack was humbled by the selection made through a nomination and vote process of the state’s 67 sheriffs.
“It means a great deal because it’s voted on by the 67 sheriffs. To be honored as one out of 67 is huge,” he said. “A lot of the sheriffs work very closely together, know each other well and some have 25, 30 and more years in office.”
“It was truly a humbling occasion for me,” Mack added, pointing out that he’d been in office for just 15 years.
After earning an associate’s degree at Faulkner State Community College in criminal justice, he came to TROY to complete his bachelor’s in the field. A decade later, he returned to work on a master’s degree in management.
“I had 12 years in law enforcement when I went back for the master’s degree. I figured I knew something about criminal justice having worked in the field and wanted an advanced degree that, even if I decided to do something else, would help me,” he said. “Management was going to be a big part of whatever I did and that’s why I decided on management.”
He didn’t return to Troy, however, opting instead to work on the master’s degree at TROY’s site on Pensacola Naval Air Station.
“One thing I’ve always appreciated about TROY – I was going to school four nights a week for two years — is how they always worked with the students and were very accommodating,” he said. “It’s one of the things that encouraged me to finish my degree.”
Now, Mack’s had two sons and several nieces attend TROY. Without doubt a Trojan Family, Mack still encourages anyone to pursue their education with a purpose.
“I think the education is worth what you put into it. The more effort you put in, the more you get out of it,” he said. “I learned more in the master’s program than my bachelor’s because of that one thing. Work at it, and you’ll reap the benefits down the road.”
