Sheriff's Office Mourns Pilot Killed in Crash

As authorities in Decatur County, Georgia, investigate a fatal Monday plane crash, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is saying goodbye to one of its own.

Lester Hathcox, 58, a former sheriff’s office pilot, has been confirmed as one of two people on the plane when it went down. The other person on board was prominent Tampa Bay attorney Gene Odom, several media outlets have reported. Hathcox was also a longtime Eagle 8 pilot for News Channel 8.

“Lester was the perfect combination of deputy and pilot,’’ Hillsborough Sheriff David Gee said in a statement “He had the instincts of a cop and the skills to fly. His old gentle Southern boy style and demeanor belied a toughness that served his fellow deputies and the citizens of Hillsborough County so well. His family can forever be proud. We will miss him very much. God speed, Lester Hatchox.”

The sheriff’s office noted that Hathcox had more than 31 years of service in with the county and flew “hundreds of missions and directed countless deputies to the location of the bad guys as well as missing children and adults.”

The Cessna involved in Monday’s crash was based out of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The crash remains under investigation.

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