“A pillar of the community.” “A dedicated public servant.” “A good man.”

Those were the phrases used to describe Landon Pritchard, the state’s longest serving constable who passed away on Saturday following an illness.

Pritchard, who was 74 years old, served as a constable in Carter County for nearly 5 decades.

He was first elected to serve as a constable in the East Side community in 1968.

“He was one of the youngest constables in the state at the time he was elected,” said Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris.

In 2011, the Tennessee General Assembly honored Pritchard as the state’s longest serving constable with a special proclamation.

“Armed with an investigative nature, a strong work ethic, and a deep desire to protect the public, Mr. Pritchard began his illustrious career in law enforcement in 1968, when he was elected constable for Elizabethton’s East Side neighborhood,” the proclamation states. “He has earned the respect and admiration of his peers, superiors, and the citizens he nobly serves for the exemplary quality of his work.”

State Sen. Rusty Crowe was one of the driving forces behind the proclamation honoring Pritchard.

“The position of constable is our oldest form of law enforcement,” Crowe said. “Landon knew that and was very proud of his position. He understood that constables are needed in our community to help make the continuum of law enforcement work.”

Crowe described Pritchard as a dedicated public servant who really cared about the people in his district.

“But above all, he was a friend,” Crowe said. “I loved him and we will certainly miss him.”

Others whom Pritchard worked with also discussed his desire to help others and his dedication to his community.

“He was a pillar of the Carter County Constable Association,” said fellow Constable Mark Carrier. “He was well respected. He will be missed, not only by us but by the whole community.”

Through his work at the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and later with the Carter County Constables Association, Ken Potter had known and worked with Pritchard for more than 30 years.

“He was a smiling, friendly, professional law enforcement officer,” Potter said. “He was a professional in every sense of the word.”

“He was a good man,” Potter continued. “He will be missed throughout the community.”

Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey recalled in 2011 being asked to present Pritchard with the Senate Proclamation on behalf of Crowe and the rest of the Tennessee Senate.

“He has been a very dedicated public servant,” Humphrey said. “He was a fixture in the community. You just can’t replace someone like that.”

Funeral services for Pritchard will be conducted Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. at Tetrick Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. prior to the service.