Officials honor retiring medical examiner

By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com

July 01, 2008 11:02 am

— County and Cleburne officials gathered Monday to honor Dr. Arthur Raines at the Johnson County Courthouse. Raines retired Monday after 32 years as the county’s medical examiner.
Retired Judge C.C. “Kit” Cooke said justices of the peace and county judges asked commissioners to form the medical examiner’s office in 1975.
“Which was pretty unusual for a county our size at the time,” Cooke said.
County officials shifted funds from various county accounts to cover Raines’ salary that first year, Cooke joked.
“To be honest, you were listed as janitorial supplies that year,” Cooke said.
District Attorney Dale Hanna recalled the many cases in which Raines served as a witness.
“I always had a secure feeling when you took the stand,” Hanna said. “Some [witnesses], you don’t know if they can withstand cross. From my point of view, there’s been no greater friend to prosecutors and law enforcement than Rusty Raines.”
Sheriff Bob Alford thanked Raines for his support through the years both through running the jail’s medical office and helping with investigations. Cleburne Police Chief Terry Powell and Cmdr. N.H. Laseman also called Raines’ services invaluable through the years.
“Dr. Raines’ gift is that he can explain things and paint a picture for a jury,” Commissioner Mark Carpenter said.
Commissioner Don Beeson, who worked for Raines for 27 years, thanked him, his staff and his wife, former Cleburne Mayor Katherine P. Raines.
Beeson and other staff members talked about calling Raines on the phone throughout the years at all hours of the day and said he was always there for them.
“The bottom line is you did what you were supposed to do and then always went above the call of duty,” Commissioner R.C. McFall said.
Raines returned the compliments.
“I wasn’t doing this all by myself,” Raines said. “When Commissioner Beeson talks about phone calls at 3 a.m., he was out climbing through the bushes. I only got a phone call. But, I was blessed with a lot of great employees who allowed me to succeed.”