James L. Hawk Herford

James Lynn "Hawk" Herford, 63, of Westlake passed away, Sunday, January 9, 2011 in Hollywood, Florida.

He was born in Lake Charles and a lifelong resident of Westlake. He was a 1965 graduate of Westlake High School and attended McNeese State University. Mr. Herford began a career dedicated to law enforcement when he joined the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office in 1972 serving as a deputy. In 1979 he ran for and was elected Westlake Chief of Police. He retired as chief after twenty years.

He was a member of the Louisiana Pardon and Parole Board until 2004. He served with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office until 2007 when he returned to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office to serve as the Public Relations Office for community services.

He was a member of the International Association of Chief's of Police, the Louisiana Chief's of Police Board, the Municipal Peace Offices Board, the Municipal Retirement Board, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the Governor's Drug Control and Violent Policy Board. He was a member the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8, the Southwest Chief of Police Board, the DARE Board, the Southwest District Law Enforcement Planning Council. He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Always active in community services, Mr. Herford served as a member of the Westlake Real Estate Board and the Lake Charles Port Authority Board. Mr. Herford was a member of St. John Bosco Catholic Church and attended Mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.

Survivors include his wife, Deanna McCallon Herford of Westlake; son, Randy Weathersby; daughter, Brenda Jouett; one brother, Guy Herford; seven grandchildren, Casey and Tracy Jouett, Megan Rose, Kade Kibodeaux, Whitney and Taylor Weathersby, and Lacy Breaux; two nephews, James Scott Herford and Stephen Marshall Herford. He was preceded in death by his parents, James R. and Iva Mae (Roth) Herford.

His Funeral Mass will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, January 14, 2011 at The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. Monsignor Jace Eskind and Reverend Herbert J. May will officiate. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery in Westlake under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Thursday, with a prayer service at 6:00 PM with Reverend W. H. Yarbrough officiating. Visitation will continue on Friday from 9:00 AM until 1:30 PM in the funeral home.

Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are, Scott and Stephen Herford, George Thompson, Jr., Carl "Skip" Chisholm, Earl Stark, Mike Parker, Mike Wade and David Van Winkle.