There’s a new Deputy Marshal in Dodge - and it’s 82-year-old Middlesbrough DJ Sam Harris!
The community radio presenter was appointed to the surprise position after he interviewed Marshal Allen Bailey from Dodge City, Kansas, on his show.
It is the second honour of 2015 for Sam, a presenter for CVFM Radio in Middlesbrough, who was also given an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Sam is the host of the Big Band, Crooners & Jazz show every Thursday and CVFM Country every Saturday, and it is during his country show he regularly interviews country music artists and other personalities in America and other parts of Europe.
Sam has a big following across the pond, where the programme is rebroadcast on an American radio station.
Whilst congratulating Sam for his MBE, awarded for services to sea angling, Marshal Bailey surprised him by also appointed him as the Deputy Marshal of Dodge City, during the live Skype interview.
The Marshal is also a singer in a band called the Silver Bullets and Sam had no idea he was a real lawman.
“I thought Marshall was his first name,” he laughed.
“The Marshal said he’d heard about my honour from the Queen and said he was going to give me another honour.”
And so with his right hand raised in the studio of the Victoria Road station in Middlesbrough, Sam took the oath and was appointment to his new ceremonial position.
“I’ve been in radio for well over 45 years and its the first time I’ve been speechless on air!” he laughed.
“When I received the news that I was on the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list and was to be awarded an MBE, I was totally humbled and a little surprised.
“However being appointed the Deputy Marshal live on CVFM radio was a total shock.
“I have had people from all over the world, literally getting in touch to congratulate me, with some puns and jokes about being the Deputy Marshal.
“I’ve been to the US a few times but never to Kansas. I would love to walk down the street in Dodge City wearing my Stetson and Deputy Marshall’s badge.”
A fascinating character, Sam, of Old Shotton Village, has many years’ experience in the sea angling world where he has headed committees and organised many competitions within the sport.
Sam still writes a weekly sea angling column in the Newcastle Chronicle and is also published in a national angling magazine on a regular basis.
He has organised competitions and social events, which have raised thousands of pounds for charities such as the RNLI, National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen and many others.
Sam is now part of the Silver Jockeys team, a lottery funded project which supports senior citizens to play an active part in the community through media and broadcasting which is hosted the community radio station.
Idrees Rashid, director of CVFM Radio, said: “Sam is a dedicated member of the team and his contribution to the Silver Jockeys project and radio programming is invaluable. He very much deserves this MBE for the fantastic work his does for so many causes.
“I’m not sure what his role as the Deputy Marshal of Dodge City will entail but I can envisage him playing the part well.”
• You can hear Sam Harris live on CVFM Country every Saturday 12pm-2pm on 104.5FM in Middlesbrough and surrounding area, Online via www.cvfm.org.uk and also via TuneIn mobile App.
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