Berrydale fire people index — Officials, investigators and families

About this source

PEOPLE INDEX — Officials, investigators and families Inclusion identifies a documented connection, not guilt. Facts are bounded by the cited records. Names follow the source; spelling and identity conflicts are retained. A. O. Lovett — Officer in charge The investigation describes his transfer of keys to Cobb for the armory, repeated attempts to unlock the exit and rescue activity. The reproduced jury finding found no negligence by prison officials. Limits: Accounts must be attributed; rescue activity and the adequacy of the key procedure are separate questions. Family complaints about his conduct are allegations, not established misconduct. Source: S923, PDF 10, 13–16. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/a-o-lovett R. E. Cobb — Roving officer Listed as a roving officer; the report describes him receiving keys to obtain weapons from the armory during the disturbance. Limits: Newspapers expand the name to Richard E. Cobb; use initials until identity is independently checked. Source: S923, PDF 10, 13–14. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-e-cobb D. Coker Nelson — Roving officer Listed among staff on duty; appears in the report’s account of calls for assistance during the disturbance and fire. Limits: Newspaper spellings vary, including Cocker Nelson. Do not infer a different person solely from spelling. Source: S923, PDF 10, 13–14. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/d-coker-nelson C. E. Acree — Camp captain Listed as captain; signed July 19 affidavit saying fire plan 64-M8 had been posted about July 1, 1964 and staff had read and initialed it. Limits: The affidavit establishes his assertion, not independent verification that each required action occurred during the fire. Source: S923, PDF 10, 19. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/c-e-acree G. E. Mayne — Camp sergeant Listed as sergeant; narrative describes his inquest testimony. George E. Mayne, Jr. notarized Acree’s affidavit. Limits: Initials and title vary in newspaper accounts. Do not treat the early gas-line account as the investigation’s final finding. Source: S923, PDF 10, 15–16, 19. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/g-e-mayne Louie L. Wainwright — Director, Division of Corrections Recipient of the special investigation. Correspondence and board records document his proposed camp closures, staffing and funding request, and reported changes to keys and fire precautions. Limits: An administrative assertion or proposal is not proof that a change was completed. Source: S923, PDF 7–10; also S1805 PDF 10–12. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/louie-wainwright L. W. Griffith — Superintendent of road prisons Listed as superintendent; testified at inquest and issued the June 25, 1964 fire plan. Limits: The plan is present; the full transcript of his testimony is not. Source: S923, PDF 10, 15–16, 20–21. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/l-w-griffith O. P. Constant — Assistant superintendent of road prisons Listed in the investigation’s personnel roster. Limits: No separate account of his actions established from this roster. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/o-p-constant R. W. Brantley, Jr. — Administrative assistant, road prisons Listed in the investigation’s personnel roster. Limits: No separate account of his actions established from this roster. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-w-brantley-jr R. C. Henderson — Special agent Listed among Division of Corrections personnel. Limits: No separate individual investigative file received. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-c-henderson T. J. Stewart — Physician Listed as M.D. in the personnel roster. Limits: Do not infer an autopsy role solely from this listing. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/t-j-stewart Marvin Free — State Road Department foreman Listed among State Road Department personnel. Limits: Role listed; individual testimony not supplied. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/marvin-free Pasco Rowell — State Road Department foreman Listed in the personnel roster. Early newspaper accounts attribute a racial-fight explanation to a foreman whose surname is printed Rowells. Limits: The investigation and reproduced verdict later reject evidence of racial violence; the early account is not a settled finding. Source: S923, PDF 10; early AP report July 17. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/pasco-rowell J. O. Jones — State Road Department truck driver Listed among State Road Department personnel. Limits: No separate individual account supplied. Source: S923, PDF 10. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/j-o-jones R. B. Gramling — Prison inspector and investigator One of three named authors of the special investigation. Limits: An author of the official account, not independent corroboration of it. Source: S923, PDF 9, 18. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-b-gramling R. P. McLendon — Prison inspector and investigator Coauthor of the special investigation; evidence inventory lists 12 photographs he made July 17. Limits: Photographs are listed but not present as a complete labeled evidence set in the delivery. Source: S923, PDF 9, 11, 18. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-p-mclendon Paul J. Eubanks — Superintendent, Apalachee Correctional Institution Coauthor of the special investigation; report describes survivor transfers to Apalachee and further statements there. Limits: Referenced individual statements are not supplied. Source: S923, PDF 9, 16–18. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/paul-j-eubanks William F. Quick — Governor’s investigator Associate investigator in report. Stafford describes an August 16 meeting with Cole’s father and Quick, typed questions, and further investigative work. Limits: Original questions, notes and complete Quick reports remain leads. Bill Quick is the name used in Stafford’s letter. Source: S923, PDF 2–3, 9. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/william-f-quick Donald L. Stevenson — State Fire Marshal investigator Named associate investigator; the evidence inventory credits him with finding a Timex watch in shower-room debris, stopped at 9:08. Limits: The stopped watch does not independently establish the ignition time. Source: S923, PDF 9, 11. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/donald-l-stevenson James McCall — Attorney General’s office investigator Listed as an associate investigator. Limits: Distinct listing from County Judge Mahlon C. McCall; do not merge them. Source: S923, PDF 9. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/james-mccall George E. Watts, Jr. — Attorney General’s office investigator Listed as an associate investigator. Limits: No individual notes supplied. Source: S923, PDF 9. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/george-e-watts-jr Arthur S. Mann — Attorney General’s office investigator Listed as an associate investigator. Limits: No individual notes supplied. Source: S923, PDF 9. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/arthur-s-mann Mahlon C. McCall — County judge / coroner The report identifies the coroner and describes the July 17–18 inquest, site visit and verdict. Limits: The report reproduces the verdict, but is not the original signed coroner’s return or complete transcript. Source: S923, PDF 15–16. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/mahlon-c-mccall William H. Stafford, Jr. — State attorney, First Judicial Circuit His November 29 letter describes his office’s role in identification and inquest work, correspondence with the Cole family, and opposition to convening a grand jury. Limits: The letter is Stafford’s account of family concerns. His characterization of a grieving relative is not adopted as fact. Source: S923, PDF 2–3, 15–16. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/william-h-stafford-jr Curtis Golden — Assistant state attorney Named in the account of arrangements for the inquest and advice concerning funeral services. Limits: Complete office files and funeral procurement documents not received. Source: S923, PDF 15–16. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/curtis-golden Newton V. McGuffin, Jr. — Deputy / temporary morgue custody Report identifies him in connection with custody of the temporary morgue jointly with corrections personnel. Limits: Original body-custody records remain sought. Source: S923, PDF 15. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/newton-v-mcguffin-jr Laraine Cole — Family member Stafford identifies her as David F. Cole’s widow and discusses her requests for information and concerns about treatment, transfer and the response to the fire. Limits: Her original letter is not in the supplied set. Hearsay about a refusal to open the door is not established fact. Source: S923, PDF 2–3. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/laraine-cole R. C. Cole — Family member Identified by Stafford as David Cole’s father; met Stafford and Quick on August 16 and supplied typed questions. Limits: The original questions and a direct family account are missing. Source: S923, PDF 2–3. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/r-c-cole Willie Mae Mitchell — Family member represented in correspondence Attorney Earle V. Rifas’s July 20 letter seeks Lee Andrew Mitchell’s remains and assistance with funeral costs on her behalf. Limits: Do not infer absence of family interest from the investigation’s unclaimed-body label; exact relationship should follow the letter rather than assumption. Source: S1805, PDF 13–14. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/willie-mae-mitchell Earle V. Rifas — Attorney Wrote July 20 on behalf of Willie Mae Mitchell concerning remains and funeral costs. Limits: No subsequent disposition of the request is established by this letter. Source: S1805, PDF 14. Archive profile: https://cryptofechoes.com/dossiers/earle-v-rifas Source keys: S923: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-c230a2000e0948fc9b38c98c9e0b10c0 S1805: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-e9cce9957207496583ffe3793ed81c83 S431: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-d3ee91816dcc4166bfe4ef668ec3f0f5 Newspapers: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-cb22e9af69f74acbb18dd3480542ddef Senate: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-004445d89cc9484992248b4c2f7beed1 House: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-22d25e5e0b5a49af9d4d055896483137 Other sections of this index: Berrydale fire people index — The 38 victims: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-aab67f6c04c34196b258391b5dc64047 Berrydale fire people index — The 13 surviving prisoners: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-170775818d814b7e898c4f47e0727b2c Berrydale fire people index — Officials, investigators and families: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-1af86447633642639fe7df176b4d2494 Berrydale fire people index — Safety officials, responders and reporting: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-7a74fc86457d48f983eb8c5c84bc3d49 Berrydale fire people index — Identification work and legislative participants: https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-38016c35d42449bdb4c92d960855d726

Date

Research snapshot: October 14, 2026

Reference collection

Crypt of Echoes

Cited record locations checked against available originals. Allegations distinguished from findings; no exhaustive human transcription or independent verification of every historical claim is asserted.

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