The Falls of Rough community and all of Grayson County lost an unparalleled public servant and bona fide hero on Saturday, as Dave Colston passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Colston, 67, worked as a Special Deputy with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office for many years and served as chief of the Falls of Rough Fire Department, as well as assistant chief. Colston, though, is perhaps best known for being one of the best commercial divers in Kentucky, as well as throughout the southeast U.S.
During his time as a diver, he found bodies when other divers had no success. He found murder weapons and other key pieces of evidence where other divers came up empty. And he dove, risking his own life with every dive, without fanfare or monetary reward.
“Selfless” is the one word the people who knew Colston the best use most often when describing the man who offered his expert services to law enforcement agencies around the country without a second thought.
Upon learning of Colston’s death, the Falls of Rough Fire Department released the following statement on the department’s Facebook page:
Rest in Peace Assistant Chief/Diver One Dave Colston. You will be forever missed by your friends and fellow firefighters at the Falls of Rough VFD. We will take it from here.
Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins, who knew and worked with Colston for many years, wrote a thoughtful tribute to the fallen hero that he published on his personnel Facebook page:
Grayson County lost a good man today. Dave Colston, a long time Special Deputy passed away after a hard fought battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. I am honored to have had Dave serve as Special Deputy while I was Sheriff. I was also privileged to work with him on many occasions while I was a Kentucky State Trooper. Dave epitomized the phrase “special deputy.” He was so special we made up an award called the “Ralph W. Haycraft Citation for Meritorious Service Award” to honor him for his years of service.
Come to think of it, I never really knew what Dave did for a living because he was paid nothing as a Special Deputy. I saw him at multiple fire scenes when he was a “volunteer” fire fighter, which paid “nothing.” I saw him dive into waters at temps less than 40 degrees which led to the conviction of many murderers, bank robbers, and thieves and was paid “nothing.”
There is no way he could have worked more hours than he volunteered and he NEVER EVER asked for anything in return. With his skills, Dave could have made thousands upon thousands of dollars, but he chose to donate his time. I do not know of many men like Dave Colston! He served this great County honorably and we at the GCSO are deeply saddened by his death.
To his family, thank you for sharing him with us. I know that as you were growing up he probably missed a birthday or two, a graduation, dinner, and maybe just a night out. But please understand that because of him, lives were saved and others slept better at night because he was doing “his thing” and making Grayson County a safer place to live.
I could go on and on about this man, but I will just say thank you Dave! You meant so much to this county and we thank you for your selfless service. Godspeed my friend, we have the watch from here. Rest easy. May God comfort your family!
(Photo: Sheriff Norman Chaffins presenting Dave Colston with Ralph W. Haycraft Citation for Meritorious Service Award, courtesy of Norman Chaffins)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
