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Faces of the Tri-State: Small-town boy becomes police chief
New police chief William "Bud" Lett poses for a photo, Friday, August 6, 2010, outside the city of Kenova municipal building.
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KENOVA -- William Lett describes himself as a small-town boy nicknamed "Bud."
Kenova's new police chief resides in Fraziers Bottom, a small unincorporated area of Putnam County northwest of his hometown in Winfield, W.Va. He estimates it to be a 35-minute drive to his new office at 15th and Pine streets.
Lett, a retired federal drug agent and former state trooper, accepted the chief's post nearly a month ago. The fishing enthusiast is trying to meet new folks by visiting businesses and restaurants in the small town of Kenova, which reminds him of his hometown.
"Anybody who wants to tell me where there's a good fishing hole, I'll listen to them," he said.
Lett stands 6-foot, 6-inches tall. That height coupled with 1,000-plus points scored in high school, landed him a basketball scholarship at King College in Bristol, Tenn. He later returned to his Putnam County alma mater as an assistant coach for Winfield High's state championship team in 2004.
Lett credits basketball with instilling a sense of discipline and self-control. Both were traits that proved necessary in law enforcement. That's all the more true in a supervisory position.
"You have to always keep your emotions under control," he said. "You can't be out there, out of control and expect somebody to follow your directions or listen to you. You have to be in control of the situation."
Lett, who still bleeds Winfield General green, counts high school athletics as a joy in his life. He enjoys sitting in the stands and watching students compete.
"(I like to) just see the ability that they have and I just enjoy the atmosphere," he said. "You get good high school rivalries, there's nothing like that."
Lett's family life includes his wife and fishing partner, Misty. The two first met as he walked to his Main Street home from the county school board office. He noticed her standing outside of the nearby West Virginia State Police barracks, where she was working a summer job. In a year they would start dating and marriage followed three years later.
Lett considers her to be the better angler. The Kanawha River, Mason County's Chief Cornstalk Lake and the Williams River in eastern West Virginia are among the couple's favorite spots.
"I like trout fishing," he said. "(I like) the relaxation, the quietness of where you're at and the excitement when you catch one."
Lett lives by a motto of catch-and-release on the waters, but he vowed he will not pursue that philosophy in dealing with drug trafficking in Kenova.
"They do have drugs here," said the retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent. "No town or city is immune to drugs. We have an idea of some of the dealers, and we will address that. Believe me."
Lett doesn't have aspirations to use Kenova as a stepping stone to another agency.
"I plan on being police chief here for as long as they'll have me," he said. "I don't aspire to be a police chief in any bigger city or anything like that. My plans are to grow this department and to make it as professional as I possibly can."
William "Bud" Lett
AGE: 57
HOMETOWN: Fraziers Bottom, W.Va., in Putnam County
FAMILY: Married to Misty Lett with a son and grandchild
JOBS: Kenova police chief; retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent and former trooper with the West Virginia State Police.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Winfield High School, King College in Bristol, Tenn., and Marshall University.
HOBBIES: Fishing with his wife, watching car racing and high school athletics.
ASSOCIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: Drug Endangered Children, New Point Church of Hurricane, W.Va.
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Washington Nationals, where brother Jim Lett is the bullpen coach.
