BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — It’s a common wish for the everyday working man to be able to retire from their job while still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy themselves. For one Martin County man who resigned from not one but two positions as of Dec. 31, plans are to kick back a little, relax and make up for lost time with his son and other family members. 

Boone Mahon was first elected as the county jailer in 2007 and successfully won three additional consecutive terms after his first four years of service, giving him 16 years in that position. When it came time to register to run for office in 2022, Mahon took a step back and carefully examined his future. He decided not to seek the office he currently held, announcing his plans to retire at the end of the year.

“I had many voters in the county that told me as long as I decided to run for jailer, they’d continue to vote to keep me there,” Mahon remarked. “But it was time for me to hand the reigns to someone else and to spend more time with my 17-year-old son before he’s grown and gone. My late wife and I adopted him when he was just a baby. Serving as jailer and working as a custodian for the school system, I know I missed out on a lot when he was little. I owe him that time together, and I owe it to myself. I knew I would regret it if I didn’t make that my No. 1 priority.”

Mahon said he owes a debt of gratitude to the citizens of Martin County who elected him to four terms in office, saying it meant the world to him to have their trust and confidence to do the job in a way that was not only pleasing to man but to God.

“I never changed my platform from the first time I knocked on a door to campaign years ago through my last day of serving as your county jailer,” stated Mahon. “I always told the public that should I be elected, I promised to treat their loved ones the same way I’d want them to treat mine. I pledged to remain the same person they were talking to that day – that I wouldn’t change anything. I’m proud to say those are two promises that were never broken.”

Mahon said there’s no greater compliment than to have someone approach him that he transported to jail through the years and thank him for the kindness that he showed them, the words of encouragement he provided and for treating them the same way he would have if he had been seated beside them in church.

“When someone is on their way to jail, they’re feeling despair and sadness. Some are regretful for what they did to get themselves in that predicament, while others are scared and feel lost and alone,” said Mahon. “It’s not my place to judge anyone, but as a Christian, it is my place to share the word of God and tell them how they will get through this – that this can be the day they choose a better life and accept him as their Savior. You have the perfect opportunity to witness while they’re in the backseat of that cruiser, and I always tried my best never to pass up the chance to encourage and lift them up.”

Mahon remembers transporting a prisoner in the middle of winter who had no socks on and was complaining that his feet were freezing. Mahon took the socks off his own feet and gave them to the man, not wanting him to be in jail without a pair to warm him. Years later, Mahon was in a physician’s waiting room and was approached by the same man insisting that he accept $5 as repayment for the socks.

“He never forgot,” said Mahon. “That memory stayed with him, and I can hardly even talk about it without tearing up.”

Regarding his nearly 28 years with the Martin County Board of Education, Mahon said there would be a period of getting used to not seeing the smiling faces of students who greeted him each day, many running up to wrap their arms around him in a hug.

“Those babies are so precious, and I never passed up the chance to speak a kind word or share a smile. You never know their home situation or what they may be going through. The kindness you show could be what gets them through their day,” remarked Mahon. “Children are our greatest blessing and need to be treated as such.”

Come summer, Mahon plans to take several trips with his son and take off every weekend they can to do things and visit locations they’ve had to put on the back burner due to his work. He plans to remain as active as possible and prays he will be blessed with many years of life.

“Again, please allow me to thank every person who supported my campaign over the past years. For the many acquaintances and friends I made along the way, I wish all of you the happiest New Year and pray 2023 will be kind to us all.”