Longtime Grayson County Coroner Joe Brad Hudson and Deputy Coroner Larry Holeman’s years of service to the community have been recognized by Fiscal Court.
Hudson, who served as coroner for over 18 years, retired in May because he wants to ensure his family is financially comfortable, and he furthermore fulfilled a commitment he made to his father, Ronald Hudson, in 2006.
“I was obligated to my dad before he died,” Joe Brad previously told K105. “He asked, ‘Can you handle the coroner’s office?’ I said, ‘I can.’ My due diligence for my dad was to finish his term.”
By retiring, Joe Brad said he is jump-starting his post-career retirement income.
“I’m just trying to take care of my family,” Joe Brad said upon his retirement. “The rules are that because I was (an) elected (official), then I have to resign the position in order to get my retirement started.”
Joe Brad, who first began working for the coroner’s office in the early 90s, was appointed to replace his father upon his death in February 2006. Joe Brad finished Ronald’s term, which ended in December 2006, and then faithfully served another 18 years as coroner. He received a Master Coroner designation in 2013.
Joe Brad also served as Grayson County sheriff (1998-2001) and as a deputy sheriff.
“We just wanted to recognize you for your years of service,” Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson told Joe Brad at Thursday’s Fiscal Court meeting. “We got 29 years of service (on the certificate) … this is quite unique,” Henderson said as he began reading from the certificate awarded to Joe Brad that lists the many positions he has served in over nearly three decades of service.
“Our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your 29 years of service as a Grayson County deputy sheriff, the Grayson County sheriff, Grayson County deputy coroner, the Grayson County coroner, and together with the countless other years of community service to the citizens of Grayson County, Kentucky,” Henderson read from the certificate.
After reading the award, Henderson added: “We didn’t even put Leitchfield Fire Department and EMS, we didn’t put any of that on there (the certificate), so I know you got more years than that. We appreciate your service to us, Joe Brad.”
He was also presented with a Medical Examiner’s Retirement Badge.
“Thank all of you,” Joe Brad said upon receiving the certificate and retirement badge. “Thanks to (Jailer) Jason (Woosley) for building the building out there (the Grayson County Detention Center paid for the new coroner’s office to be constructed on jail property).”
“I’m at a loss for words … I do want to thank (new coroner) Kevin (Pharis) and Larry (Holeman) and (deputy coroner) James (Embry) for taking over and keeping the coroner’s office tidied up and everything taken care of. And I thank you (Henderson) and all of you all (Fiscal Court).”
Larry Holeman
Holeman, who served as interim Grayson County coroner from May until new Coroner Kevin Pharis was sworn in on November 6, is not retiring but was recognized for his years of service at the coroner’s office.
Holeman has worked at the coroner’s office since October 2003 when he began transporting bodies to the state Medical Examiner’s in Louisville for then-Coroner Ronald Hudson.
Joe Brad promoted Holeman to deputy coroner in 2007, and he has been a dedicated member of the coroner’s office team since.
“We know you’re not retired yet, but we appreciate your services taking over for Joe Brad when he retired,” Henderson told Holeman. “We appreciate your service; you’ve been around a long time to, so this is for your 25 years of service as Grayson County deputy coroner and Grayson County coroner together with all the countless and other years of community service for the citizens of Grayson County.”
“Because you, once again, have done all kinds of things and worn all kinds of hats to. We appreciate you doing that.”
Joe Brad, who heavily relied on Holeman, particularly when Joe Brad had surgery and experienced a serious illness, is obviously fond of Holeman and says he has been a committed servant of Grayson County residents.
“Larry is just a great person,” Joe Brad said about Holeman when he earned his Master Coroner designation in April 2021. “He knows how to be compassionate with people. He has been in every facet of death, of dying, for the longest time. He’s very knowledgeable, and that’s what makes him a great deputy coroner. He knows how to investigate (and) he knows how to conduct himself. He’s very thorough and thoughtful, and makes a great asset to the coroner’s office.”
To receive the prestigious Master Coroner designation, Holeman earned certification from the Department of Criminal Justice Training by completing five core coroner’s courses, including Coroner’s Office Administration and Basic Mass Fatality Planning, in addition to completing at least 300 postmortem examinations.
(Photo l-r: Joe Brad Hudson, Kevin Henderson, Larry Holeman)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
