05/08/2026
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Sheriff George David Tilley
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: May 7, 1947
George David Tilley was born in Cameron on January 25, 1899, to David Ellison Tilley and Frazier Euritus Tilley. His father died when he was around 8 years old, and his mother ran the family farm in Lyons. After finishing school in Cameron, George attended Carlisle Fitting School in Bamberg. He returned to the family farm and was later appointed as Constable for Magistrate W.I.D. Bardin.
George married Miss Johnnie Fogle on February 14, 1925, and they lived on the farm near Cameron.
He later served as the County Tax Collector for several years, before being appointed Magistrate when Judge Bardin died. He was reelected as Magistrate and later reappointed Tax Collector.
George Tilley was elected Sheriff of Calhoun County in 1940 and reelected in 1944. Sheriff Tilley worked closely with State Constable E.D. Whetstone and Highway Patrolman T.J. Jackson, both who resided in St. Matthews.
On April 30, 1947, Sheriff Tilley and Magistrate’s Constable Jesse Shirer were on a manhunt for Willie Gidron wanted for the murder of Lone Star merchant, W.L. Riley. After a two-day search, Gidron was arrested and taken back to Riley’s Store, the scene of the murder. Sheriff Tilley took Gidron’s left boot off and matched it to a footprint at the scene. Sheriff Tilley and the prisoner were hungry and thirsty, so he bought a Coke and a pack of nabs which he shared with the prisoner. He told Constable Shirer to go on home and placed handcuffs on Gidron for the drive to the jail. At around 8:00pm, about three miles outside of St. Matthews, Gidron pulled a pistol from inside his right boot, and shot Sheriff Tilley in the side. The car veered into a ditch as Gidron jumped out and ran. Sheriff Tilley drew his pistol and emptied it at the fleeing suspect. About an hour later Sheriff Tilley was found by a passing farmer and rushed to the hospital.
The manhunt for Willie Gidron went through the night, and included local officers, 15 Highway Patrolmen and State Constables from Columbia. Gidron was arrested at 7:50 the following morning at the home of a local “preacher.” He was still wearing Sheriff Tilley’s handcuffs. State Constabulary Captain Legare Ansel, and Lt. Carl Fairey and Lt. G.C. Kinsey of the Highway Patrol transported Gidron to the State Penitentiary for safekeeping.
Sheriff Tilley was treated for eight days at the Tri-County County Hospital in Orangeburg, where he died of his wounds on May 7th.
Funeral services for Sherif George D. Tilley were conducted on May 9th, at the Methodist Church of Cameron and he was buried in the Cameron Cemetery. Pall bearers included T.J. Jackson, Jesse Shirer, Carl Fairey, W.M. Smith, E.D. Whetstone, Senator Marion Gressette, David K. Summers, and George C. Summers. Governor Strom Thurmond, and former Governors Ransome Williams and Olin Johnston were in attendance. Sheriff Tilley was survived by his wife, two sisters and two brothers. Sheriff Tilley was also a Mason and Vice-President of the Golden Kernal Pecan Company of Cameron.
The Calhoun County jury deliberated for 15 minutes before finding Willie Gidron guilty of the murder of Sheriff George Tilley. He was sentenced to die in the electric chair on July 18, 1947, by Judge M.M. Mann.
Willie Edward Gidron was executed in the electric chair at the State Penitentiary on Friday morning, January 9, 1948. Sheriff Tilley’s brother, Peter, represented the family at the ex*****on.
Sheriff George D. Tilley was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 1986, never to be forgotten.
