Warren County officials remember former sheriff Jerry ‘Peanuts’ Gaines

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Thursday morning, Warren County Fiscal Court was full of the memories of former sheriff Jerry “Peanuts” Gaines, who died yesterday. He was 88 years old.

His career of 34 years serving the people of Warren County makes Gaines the longest serving sheriff in the history of Kentucky. In 1995, he was designated the National Sheriff of the Year. He also served as president of the National Sheriff’s Association.

Amy Chandler, county attorney, Warren County, says, “The one thing that stands out when you think of Peanut Gaines is he loved people, and he loved serving the people. And it showed every day. Every time you were around him, he was always thinking of other people, what he could do to make their life better.”

Mike Buchanon, former judge-executive of Warren County, says, “In my office, it was important to know the right people, to get anything done. And, Peanuts was one of those guys that really, really helped me to get to know all the right people.”

Warren County sheriff Brett Hightower says, “One of the funny things, he had a flip phone, and I don’t remember him necessarily even having a computer on his desk. So, the way we operate now is very different. It worked for him, you know, I mean, that was the thing. He was, he liked to be right close to people at all times.”

Doug Gorman, judge-executive of Warren County, says, “He took me aside, said, boy, let me show you something. He pulled his hat off, and on one side on the inside of the hat it said “to my great friend, Peanuts, love you, Hillary.” And on the other side “to the one of a kind, Peanuts Gaines. Thanks for everything, Bill Clinton.” Now I will tell you that was the level, as the Sheriff of Warren County, this guy was always on.”

Public visitation will be Monday, Oct. 27 at Hillvue Heights Church from noon to 8 p.m., with a masonic rites ceremony set for 7 p.m.

A second visitation will take place Tuesday, Oct. 28, beginning at 8 a.m. at Hillvue Heights, lasting until the funeral begins at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office will commemorate Gaines in its new headquarters at Sugar Maple Square with a training room named after him.