Part of a collection of 6000 photos, negatives, and ROTC memorabilia donated by the photographer to Moffett Library in 1999.
Hammett "Ham" Vance was Sheriff of Wichita County from 1947-1964. On June 4, 1964, Vance was indicted on six counts of forgery, three counts of perjury, and three counts of false swearing. The indictments stemmed from Vance's affair with Gertie Marie Cavet. Marie had previously shot and killed her husband, Gus Cavet on April 11, 1962. After two trials, Marie's case was dismissed on May 1, 1963. During her time at the Wichita jail, Marie and Vance became friendly with one another. They soon began an affair. Vance was still married to his wife, Louis Marie Vance. Marie soon became pregnant and delivered a baby girl in May 1964. Three days before opening polls began for Vance's re-election for Sheriff, he was dismissed from office after a civil suit was filed against him for the twelve indictments previously listed. The indictments stemmed from Vance's previous actions of lying to a grand jury about his visit to Florida, where he was supposed to deliver a prisoner. He denied taking Marie along and said he had no contact with Marie since November 1963. He had forged receipts for numerous lodging bills to be reimbursed by the County, under the pretense he was on official duty. He was also accused of making long-distance personal telephone calls to the Arlington area. He was calling Marie and her family members. Vance won the election but was unable to assume office until the indictments had been resolved. On July 17, 1964, Vance was found guilty on all charges. His criminal trial began three days later, but Vance was absent from the courtroom. An arrest warrant was issued and he was arrested in Wichita Falls after returning from a trip to the VA clinic in Dallas. Vance pled guilty on July 21, 1964, to the same twelve charges as in the civil suit. He was sentenced to seven years probation. Vance was arrested again in November 1964 for violating his probation. He was sentenced to 2-7 years in prison. He would only serve two years before being released. He was granted a pardon in 1970 and ran again for the Sherriff of Wichita County in 1971. He lost the election. Louis and Vance divorced in 1965, and he remarried in 1973 to Lillian Cooper. Vance died in Wichita Falls in 1984.