PRESTONSBURG — Frank DeRossett Sr., who was a fixture in Floyd County politics for over three decades, died Monday.
DeRossett, 90, served as circuit clerk for 30 years, winning his first race in 1963 in photo-finish fashion, beating out David Hereford by five votes. He stepped down in 1993, as his son, Frank Derossett Jr., ran unopposed to take his place.
“When I came into office in 1999, following Frank Jr., both Frank and Frank Jr. were very helpful to me,” Circuit Clerk Douglas Ray Hall said Tuesday.
Hall said DeRosset was widely known, not just in Floyd County, but across the state. He said last week he had dealt with some people from across the state, and they had asked how the former clerk was doing.
“He was influential, not only to me, but across the state and in our circuit clerks’ association,” Hall said.
DeRossett’s influence did not just apply to the circuit clerk’s office. County Clerk Chris Waugh said he patterns the way he runs his office after lessons he learned from DeRossett.
“He was a mentor of mine,” Waugh said. “A lot of the things I do now, I learned from Frank, like being friend, talking to people and giving them a cup of coffee. Those are all things Frank did in his office.”
Waugh said DeRossett still brought him tomatoes from his garden up until the last few years.
County Judge-Executive R.D. “Doc” Marshall praised DeRossett’s contributions to Floyd County government.
“I am deeply saddened that we have lost one of our great past elected officials, who served this county professionally and superbly, during his tenure as circuit clerk,” Marshall said. “He made this county a better place to live.”
DeRossett was also an active member in the Kentucky Circuit Clerks’ Association and the Shriners.
Funeral services for Frank DeRossett Sr. will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, August 9, in the Hall Funeral Home Chapel, in Martin, with Clifford Austin and Jody Spencer officiating. Burial will follow in the Gethsemane Gardens, in Prestonsburg. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., today, at the funeral home
A full obituary can be found on page A2.
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