Sgt. Monty Carmikle

Memorial Remembrance
By Deputy Director Loren Hitchcock

My memory of Sgt. Monty Carmikle is filled with such inspirational thoughts about him as a wonderful loving father, a thoughtful loving and caring husband, a joyous loving son, a committed civic leader, a devout church believer with Jesus as his savior and a dedicated professional career wildlife officer that was a true friend in the most complex of definitions.  His sudden and tragic passing has left so many of us speechless and shined a bright light of realism on how dangerous the career of wildlife law enforcement truly is every day the officer daunts their uniform.

I can say without any reservation that Monty unquestionably loved his job as much the last day he worked as he did the day he drove away from the training center after graduation some 23 glorious years ago.  Monty is gone from the family, friends and job he loved so dearly, but he will never be forgotten.  He contributed so much to the profession of wildlife law enforcement through his unselfish and tireless efforts during routine patrol, educating sportsmen and future officers at the training academy and serving as the face of the Commission in his beloved Cleburne County.  He will be sorely missed, but I would like all that didn't know Monty as well as me, to remember this eulogy of Monty.

Eulogy for a Wildlife Officer

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.

Monty is in the Kingdom of Heaven following God's guidance and smiling with that huge smile of his on all of us.  Remember that smile, remember his character and what he stood for.  He was the "best of the best" as father, husband, son, civic leader, Christian and an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Wildlife Officer.