Selah Graham Lamb
ELKO FREE PRESS
March 3, 1987
This was Nevada:
Humboldt County’s Brave Sheriff, S. Graham Lamb
By Phillip I. Earl
…Among the most memorable of Nevada’s county officials was Selah Graham Lamb, Sheriff of Humboldt County, 1903-1919 and 1929-1933. …In November, 1898, he was elected Constable of the Gold Run Township. His handling of the duties of the office impressed Humboldt County Officials who urged him to stand for sheriff in 1902. He did so and was elected, taking office on Jan. 1, 1903.
…On Oct. 5, 1933, Lamb and his son, Ray, left for the Golconda area by automobile to investigate an incident at the Pinson Ranch involving Glen Hibbs, a cowboy who was reportedly bothering his ex-wife and threatening to kill her and other members of the family. After she and her daughter were brought to Winnemucca, Lamb and Deputies Erling Prout and Jack Duvivier scoured the hills that night and next morning searching for Hibbs. They stayed at the ranch that night and Lamb awoke just at dawn the next morning, Hearing voices, he stepped outside to investigate and saw Hibbs standing, rifle in hand, on a hillside about 150 feet away. Hibbs and Deputy Duvivier, standing in the yard, were shouting back and forth. When Hibbs saw Lamb, he raised his rifle and fired at him, the bullet penetrating his abdomen. The sheriff fell backwards and Hibbs shot him a second time, then a third and finally, a fourth. Hibbs then made a run for the barn, but was stopped by a bullet fired by Duvivier which struck him in the arm. He dropped behind some bushes at that point, held his rifle under his chin and put a bullet through his brain. Lamb was rushed to Winnemucca by auto, but succumbed to his wounds 10 minutes after he was carried into the hospital.
Graham Lamb’s funeral on Oct. 10 was as large as any in the community’s history, 100 cars of mourners joining the procession to the cemetery. Lawmen from all parts of the state attended the services, as did officers from surrounding states who had had dealings with the man over the years. State officials were also on hand that day, businesses closed and District Judge L.O. Hawkins recessed the District Court out of respect for the man who had served so ably as an n officer of the court for so many years.
Plaque Location & Image
Center Wall Column 7 Row F View The Plaque