Vinton County honors Ohio’s first female sheriff

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WOWK)–100 years ago, the first female sheriff in Ohio’s history wore the badge for the first time.

Thursday, the Vinton County Department of Tourism unveiled a mural of Maude Collins, Ohio’s first female sheriff, to make sure her impact is felt and seen every day.

“They assumed that the first female sheriff was in the 1970s,” said the artist behind the mural, Pamela Kellough. “And the fact of the matter is this is 1925, and that was only four years after women got the right to vote.”

Maude Collins took on the role of Vinton County Sheriff after her husband, Fletcher, who was the sheriff at the time, was killed in the line of duty in October 1925. She served the remainder of his term and was then re-elected to serve another.

During her tenure, she solved cases that are now famous and became the first woman to ever deliver prisoners to the state penitentiary.

Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain says Collins set the standard that his officers strive for.

“She stepped up after losing her husband and did amazing at it,” said Sheriff Cain. “And showed that same dedication that officers today should be showing in their roles as law enforcement officers.”

Kellough said she wants people to look at the painting and reflect on the strides that have been made since Collins became Sheriff.

“It makes people reflect and see where they are today,” said Kellough. “And the sacrifices that people made years and years and years ago to get them where we are today.”

As well as hopes to inspire the next generation.

“And I just want them to be aware and especially little girls, I want them to see this and say, hey, this is pretty cool,”

An Ohio Historical Marker was placed next to the Courthouse in Collins’ honor in 2019.