

SHERIFF ROBERT SUMMITT
APRIL 15-29,1963
Of all Hamilton County’s sheriffs, Judge Robert Summitt’s tenure was the shortest and most unusual. Summitt served as assistant county attorney and a Hamilton County coroner for ten years before being summoned by the county court to complete Sheriff James “Bookie” Turner’s last term of office. Turner had won the election for Chattanooga Fire and Police Commissioner and was unable to finish the last days of his term as sheriff. Summitt’s first duty was to swear all the sheriff’s deputies in as assistant coroners. He brought his two top aides, Robert Lahiere and John Fry, with him to the sheriff’s department.
