Horton, Lake City native, named trooper of year

S.C. Highway Patrol Senior Trooper Wilson Owens Horton Jr., a Lake City native, has been named the state’s Trooper of the Year for 2008.

Horton, who lives in Lake City, works with the highway patrol’s Post A, in Sumter and Clarendon counties. He has been named the post’s Trooper of the Year for the past two years.

South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Mark Keel and Highway Patrol Col. Kenny Lancaster Jr. presented Horton’s award June 16 along with other honors for troopers and telecommunications officers from around the state.

Horton graduated in 1992 from East Clarendon High School. He also graduated in 1994 from Florence-Darlington Technical College in 1994 and finished patrol school in 2005.

Horton served in the U.S. Navy from 1992 to 1996 and worked with the Olanta Police Department prior to joining the highway patrol.

Horton and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Tyler and Logan. He and his family are active members of Barrineau Pentecostal Holiness Church.

“We believe Senior Trooper Horton embodies the characteristics of an all-around outstanding trooper,” said Lancaster, who presented Horton’s award. “He believes strongly in serving others — both in his personal and professional lives. We have received very positive comments from the public about the compassionate and caring manner in which he has conducted his collision investigations. We believe he sets an outstanding example for other troopers to follow.”