By KYLE LOVERN

Sports Editor

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – A Williamson High School alumnus and former Wolfpack basketball player was named the Ohio State Trooper of the Year in 2011.

Jermaine Thaxton was given the award back in February of this year. Thaxton achieved 307 DUI arrests. That broke the old record of 268 DUI arrests. An article in the Flying Wheel (Ohio Trooper State magazine) said, “He is passionate about removing impaired drivers from the road and often challenges his coworkers to see who can get the first DUI arrest of the night.”

“It’s definitely an honor,” the modest Thaxton said. “I still just consider myself an old country boy from Williamson.”

“Thaxton has led his midnight shift in traffic stops for five years running and is also a leader in safety belt enforcement,” the article read. “His supervisors say he is very team oriented and works with the other members of his shift on crash investigations, DUI arrests or to target criminal activity.”

“I have worked as a trooper for 10 years and half of that time has been on the night shift,” he added.

Thaxton is a member of the 140th Academy Class, and earned his commission in 2003. He served at Toledo until July 2004 when he transferred to Granville. He has been voted Post Trooper of the Year four times. In his career, he also has earned the Ace and Criminal Patrol awards for his enforcement efforts. Trooper Thaxton is a graduate of Marshall University. The ACE award is for recovering at least five stolen vehicles and making arrests in connection with those investigations.

Thaxton, who was a 1994 graduate of WHS, now resides in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus

While at Williamson High, Thaxton was a standout basketball player from 1992 through 1994. He was known for his outside shooting ability.

His sister Vanessa Phillips and other family members still reside in Williamson.