When the clock struck midnight and the calendar officially moved from 2020 to 2021, Pam Harris and husband Cliff Harris began a new chapter in their lives after dedicating their entire working careers to Pecos County.

The couple decided to call it a career together after working for the county a combined 91 years.

Cliff began his service with Pecos County in 1977 when he was hired as a deputy sheriff with the Pecos County Sheriff’s Office.

Seven years later, the 1971 Fort Stockton High School graduate was promoted to chief deputy under the sheriff at the time, Bruce Wilson. Once Wilson retired in 2000, Cliff won the election for the Pecos County Sheriff position and started his 19-year run as the county’s sheriff.

The 68-year-old said after his retirement that going into law enforcement is something he desired since he was a kid and was thankful for his first opportunity with the Fort Stockton Police Department in 1976 and the Pecos County Sheriff’s Office for his 43-year tenure.

“I just always wanted to do it. I tried getting into it for several years and finally got on with the Fort Stockton Police Department here. That’s where I got started. I always wanted to help people,” he said.

What he’ll miss most about the job – interacting with his longtime co-workers and the Pecos County community.

“I’ll miss working with the people and being around a lot of people. All the community,” he said.

Pam started her 48-year career with the county in 1972 as an administrative assistant for the county judge at the time, Buck Luttrell.

Luttrell was the first of seven bosses she had during her career with the county.

“I was lucky when one would be defeated or they something happened they I’d be allowed to stay,” she said.

The 1964 Van Horn High School graduate followed her two-year stint as an administrative assistant for Luttrell with a 22-year run with the justice of the peace office under Freddie Capers.

When Capers ran for county judge and won, Pam became an administrative assistant for him and held that position until her official retirement on Dec. 31 of this past year.

Pam finished her career as the administrative assistant for current Pecos County Judge Joe Shuster – working for him for the past 18 years.

Along the way, Pam was recognized for her years of service with the county, but the most memorable and prestigious award she earned was Female Citizen of the Year in Pecos County in 2018.