Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 7, 1995                   TAG: 9503070133
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PAUL SUTPHIN, EX-FLOYD SHERIFF, DIES

Sutphin grew up in Floyd and began his career with the Department of Corrections.

Betty Thomas, Sutphin's daughter and the Montgomery County administrator, said that from the beginning, her father knew he had found his passion.

``He always had a great love for government, and, more specifically, for law enforcement,'' she said.

Sutphin, a Republican, first was elected sheriff in 1960.

Three years later, former Sheriff Ora D. Williams, who came out of retirement after serving as sheriff for 20 years, challenged Sutphin for the Republican nomination. Sutphin narrowly defeated Williams and was easily re-elected in the predominantly Republican county.

By the 1967 primary, Sutphin won his biggest victory by beating Joe Howell with almost 300 votes. Sutphin went on to win that sheriff's race and was re-elected in 1970.

After 12 years, Sutphin went into semiretirement and worked part time for the Department of Corrections. A few years ago, he and his wife, Hazel, moved to Montgomery County to be closer to Thomas.

``He worked many hours over and beyond what most would do,'' Thomas said. ``He made a difference.''