Buddy Aldridge has always struck me as being more than a lawman.

Sure, he served six terms as sheriff in Colbert County. Before taking over as the county’s chief law enforcement officer in 1975, he spent seven years as an agent with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control board at a time when bootlegging and moonshine were rampant in the South, including northwest Alabama.

He dealt with murders, severe domestic violence cases and dozens of other issues.

Stories he used to share with me and others about his career in law enforcement are legendary, perhaps even great fodder for a book one day.

He’s one of those people you could sit and listen to all day and never be bored.

So go ahead and forget the first impressions most people got when they heard that soft, raspy voice and saw his thin physical build. There’s no doubt he knew law enforcement on all levels.

That is hardly the whole story of Buddy Aldridge, though.

His passing Friday at the age of 82 created a moment of pause for many. I’m among them.

It’s not the law enforcement skills that I will remember most. I will remember the way he dealt with the public. It did not matter if you were the richest man in town or the poorest, Buddy treated all of them the same. He connected with them and talked their language. It’s a powerful skill that could defuse a potentially hostile situation, and it certainly served him well at election time.

From my viewpoint, the Shoals has never seen a better politician. Whether you liked him or not — and few law enforcement officials make everyone happy if they’re doing their job correctly — you’ve got to respect and admire him for his political savvy.

He loved politics and was a devoted Democrat. If you were a politician and smart enough, you learned how to be a successful candidate by watching Buddy.

He seemed to know everyone personally, as well as their spouse, children, parents and next-door neighbors. He had the unique ability to make everyone feel at ease around him. Even criminals knew they would get a fair shake from him.

The bottom line was his strength in building relationships with people.

It helped him solve crimes, develop contacts and allowed him to get things for his department.

It’s a trait that we all need to learn, regardless of occupation. If we all learned to treat people with respect and show them compassion, it’s amazing what can be accomplished.

It’s unlikely anyone knew that better than Buddy.

Mike Goens can be reached at mike.goens@TimesDaily.com or 256-740-5740.