DALE COUNTY: On Saturday, June 21, 2025 the family, friends, fellow law enforcement, fellow first responders and citizens of Dale County came together to pay tribute to a man who devoted 28 years to serve and protect others.
The Celebration of Life Services for retired Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson.
As Retired Dale County Sheriff Bryant Mixon described, at about age 14, Wally Olson met him and said that he wanted to one day be the Sheriff of Dale County. Sheriff Mixon gave to Wally Olson a badge. One he kept shiny. Several years later Sheriff Mixon hired Wally Olson beginning in the jail. From that point, and working with Ariton Police Department, Wally Olson worked his way through Alabama Police Academy , as class President, on through the ranks to become the elected Sheriff of Dale County.
In 2013, just 5 years after becoming Sheriff, Wally Olson was faced with something no other Sheriff has been faced with. Jimmy Lee Dykes, a 65-year-old Vietnam War-era veteran, boarded a Dale County school bus, killed the driver, and took a five-year-old boy hostage. On the afternoon of February 4, law enforcement agents entered the bunker, killed Dykes, and rescued the child. Midland City, Alabama, U.S. When Wally Olson arrived on the scene, he never left for the 6 day stand off. Area law enforcement responded and assisted. Sheriff Olson never hesitatted to call in state and federal resources to assist. But Sheriff Wally Olson remained on the scene and in command. The child was removed safe.
Current Sheriff, Mason Bynum, was also a Dale County native who came to Wally Olson and, like Olson, wanted to become Sheriff of Dale County when Sheriff Wally Olson retired. Sheriff Olson hired Mason Bynum, who was hired as a jailer. And Mason Bynum worked his way through the department to become Chief Deputy under Sheriff Olson. On the retirement of Olson the dream of Mason Bynum became reality.
Sheriff Bynum said that Wally Olson never could get his phone on silent. He would have ring tones like ducks. Sheriff Bynum related that when one person called, no matter what, Sheriff Wally Olson would answer. And that was his mother. Sheriff Wally Olson served as President of the Alabama Sheriff Association. At one particular event Alabama Governor Ivey was speaking and Sheriff Olson was on the stage. The ducks started and Sheriff Olson answered during the Governor’s speech because it was his mother calling.
While Wally Olson loved his job as Sheriff, and the people of Dale County, his first love was in Jesus Christ followed by his wife, two daughters, his mother and dad. They were his pride and always lighting up when speaking of his wife and two daughters. Sheriff Mixon said that they had to get him married to Brandy to get him back to work because he was so in love.
Sheriff Wally Olson never met a stranger. No matter who you were, no matter your color or economic status, Wally Olson was there for you. He would always tahe time to talk to you and help as best he could, anyone. He loved people and serving which he did with compassion, fairness and an unwavering belief in doing the right thing.
He worked at Ft. Novosel and Fuqua – Bankston Funeral Home after retiring from serving as Dale County Sheriff.
The Ozark Civic Center was filled with people from all walks of life paying tribute to Wally Olson.
THANK YOU to Sheriff Olson’s wife, Brandy, two daughters Emma Claire and Ellie Grace, his parents Gary and Alice Olson. You gave your husband, dad, and son to the people of Dale County and guests who served and protected.
