Denison Herald
February 20, 1983
pg 2
 
Sherman - Funeral for Les Tribble, retired county judge who died in a Sherman hospital, were held at the Sherman First Baptist Church.  Dr. Tom Brandon conducted the service.  Burial was in Cedarlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Dannel-Horton Funeral Home.
Tribble was born April 15, 1910, in the Ida community, the son of George and Louanne Key Tribble.  He was a graduate of Sherman High School and majored in government at Texas Tech University.
He married Lottie Marie Bell September 2, 1933 in Denison, and was a member of the East Sherman Baptist Church for over 60 years.
He was employed as a law enforcement officer and police chief in Sherman for over 20 years, was a member of the City Council for five years and became judge of Grayson County in 1963.  He retired in 1978.
Survivors include his wife of Sherman; twin daughters, Mrs. Billie Dean Thompson of Austin and Mrs. Bettie Jean Reynolds of Fountain, Colorado; two brothers, Claude of Sherman and L.G. of Luella; four sisters, Mrs. Maurine Jolley of Corpus Christi, Mrs. Theda Holcomb of Sherman, Mrs. Bessie Gray of San Diego and Mrs. Dessie Lupher of Whitewright; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 

Sherman Democrat
February 20, 1983
pg. 1
 
Ex-police chief, Grayson judge Les Tribble dies of heart attack
 
Les Tribble, former Grayson County judge and Sherman police chief, died Friday at Medical Plaza Hospital, following a heart attack.  He was 72.
Funeral services were at Cedarlawn Memorial Park, directed by Dannel and Horton Funeral Home.
Tribble was rushed to Medical Plaza Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home Friday.  He died about 3 p.m., according to a family friend.
He served as Grayson County judge from 1963 to 1978.  During his tenure, the main courthouse annex in Sherman and the subcourthouse in Denison were completed.
Grayson County College was established and Highway 75 was widened to a four-lane thoroughfare through Grayson County during his time in office.
Tribble was instrumental in the establishment of the Boy's and Girl's Clubs in Sherman and Denison, the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center and the Grayson County Child Guidance Clinic.  He was past president of Goodwill Industries, Inc. and helped establish new Goodwill buildings in Sherman, Denison, Paris, Gainesville and Sulphur Springs.
Prior to his election as county judge, Tribble was a Sherman police chief from 1939 to 1946 and again from 1953 to 1962.  Tribble joined the police department in 1935.  A staunch Democrat, he also was a Sherman councilman for five years.
A native of Ida, Tribble graduated from Sherman High School in 1929 and attended Texas Tech University, where he majored in government.
Tribble was a professional wrestler in his youth, capturing the junior middle weight championship in 1933.  He competed under the names of "Terrible Tribble from Texas Tech" and the "Masked Marvel".
While in college, Tribble was named second team All American center in football.
Tribble was a member of numerous organizations, including the Lions Club, the Sherman and Denison Chamber of Commerce, the Elks Club, Oddfellows, the Texoma Cardiovascular Club, the Grayson Historical Society and the Committee for the Aged.
The recipient of many awards and citations, Tribble was listed in Who's Who in Texas and was named as one of the American Legion's "Top 100 Citizens in Texas".  He also was chosen as one of the "Outstanding Personalities of the South".   Tribble also received the Service Award to the Police Profession from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associated of Texas.
Current Grayson County Judge Horace Groff said, "Les Tribble was a man who did a lot for a lot of people.  He was a great friend to a lot of people from all walks of life".
County Clerk Paul Lee said Tribble will be remembered for his untiring dedication to people.  "He was a public spirited person and had a lot of friends," said Lee.
Tribble remained active after retirement in 1978.  Assistant County Clerk Pat Norman recalled that he performed a wedding last Saturday night with only one day's notice.
Grayson County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Monday, an hour earlier than usual, to allow members of the court to attend services for Tribble.
Born on April 15, 1910, Tribble was a son of George and Lula Ann Key Tribble and married the former Lottie Marie Bell on September 2, 1933 in Denison.
He had been a member of the East Sherman Baptist Church for more than 60 years.
Survivors include his wife; twin daughters, Billie Dean Thompson of Austin and Bettie Jean Reynolds of Fountain, Colorado; brothers, Claude Tribble of Sherman and L.G. Tribble of Luella; sisters, Maurene Jolley of Corpus Christi, Theda Holcomb of Sherman, Bessie Gray of San Diego and Dessie Lupher of Whitewright; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Groff, Lee, Judge R.C. Vaughan, Judge Ralph Elliot, Russell Giarraputo and Vane Perry.  Members of the Sherman Police Department were honorary pallbearers.