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Gary and Sheila McElfresh, along with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, have established an endowed scholarship with the John Wood Community College Foundation in honor of their late son, Matt McElfresh. Beginning in the fall of 2010, earnings from the scholarship fund will be distributed annually to a student enrolled in the Law Enforcement Program at JWCC. McElfresh attended JWCC and began work as a deputy sheriff for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in 2001. He served as an investigator for the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force from 2005 to 2009 and was an investigator for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department before a tragic off-duty ATV accident took his life on May 31, 2009. “Matt truly loved his job and his community,” Gary McElfresh said. “Establishing this scholarship for law enforcement students at John Wood seemed to be the perfect way to honor his memory. His legacy will continue because the scholarship will help educate future generations of law enforcement officers who will protect and serve our community for years to come.” The majority of McElfresh’s career was focused on drug and undercover investigations. Although very difficult and dangerous, large drug cases were a passion for him, which led to numerous arrests and seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drugs and weapons. McElfresh’s dedication was often recognized, earning him honors including Deputy of the Year for Outstanding Public Service from the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 2006, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service and DUI Enforcement in 2003 and an Achievement Award in Recognition of Contributing to Highway Traffic Safety in 2004. The Illinois Drug Enforcement Office, an organization of his peers, recognized McElfresh for work on two major drug cases. He was an original member of the Adams County Special Response Team and earned Clandestine Laboratory Certification from the Drug Enforcement Agency Academy in Quantico, Va. McElfresh had additional professional experience that included Illinois Officer Drug Certification, Juvenile Officer Certification and Breath and Alcohol Operator Certification. “His spirit is alive and well and this scholarship is just one way that Matt’s legacy will live on,” Sheila McElfresh said. “We are so proud of our son’s accomplishments and continue to hear stories of how Matt’s work as a deputy has made a positive difference in the lives of others. He loved helping kids make good choices, but also believed that people who made bad choices deserved the opportunity to turn things around. His first priority was to protect our community from criminal elements, but he always respected everyone’s dignity.” The McElfresh family appreciates the continued efforts of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office to raise funds for the scholarship at JWCC. “They have been so great to us and are really dedicated to helping endow the scholarship in Matt’s memory,” Sheila McElfresh said. “We are planning more fundraising projects together to help build the principal of the scholarship. Our hope is that current and future law enforcement officers will benefit from this fund.

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