Rel is the son of Mariam Maughan Turner and Roland L. Montgomery, he is half brother to this writer.
Decorated Hero Reldon Montgomery dies at 51
A Red Bluff hero died Sunday in Redding.
Reldon Montgomery, 51, Tehama County Probation Department division director in charge of operations, was an unarmed probation officer when he tackled a prisoner who had grabbed a deputy's gun.
A deputy was escorting a prisoner from the Tehama County Health Center where he had been taken for treatment when the prisoner resisted and grabbed the deputy's gun, recalled Bill Cornelius.
Montgomery jammed the hammer's action with his thumb, and the officers were able to subdue the prisoner.
"Reldon was just passing by and immediately jumped in and assisted in controlling the prisoner," said Cornelius, who was Tehama County Chief Probation Officer at the time. "That's typical of the kind of person he was. If anyone was in a risky situation, Reldon was the first to jump in and assist." Montgomery received the Peace Officer Certificate of Valor from the California Attorney General in 1987 for his heroism in the incident, which occurred July 24, 1986. He was also named the 1986 Tehama County Employee of the Year.
"I've asked myself if I would have responded like that if I had seen a man with a gun," Cornelius said. "You'd like to think you would."
A 24-year employee, Montgomery was an "absolutely dedicated professional as a probation officer and was a friend to everyone," Cornelius said.
"He had a strong effect on a lot of people and was an integral part of the management team," said Chuck Young, Tehama County chief probation officer.
"The department is going to miss him," Young said. "He was an extremely valuable resource to all law enforcement agencies in the area and a personal resource to the people he worked with."
Montgomery started his career about 1980 as a part-time juvenile hall employee who worked every shift and responded every chance he could, Cornelius said. "Within a year or so, he came on over as a deputy probation officer. He was bright, articulate, a good man."
"He was a great guy, and everybody really liked him," said probation office manager Gayle Urban, who worked with Montgomery 20 years. "He will be missed."
Born Aug. 15, 1952, in Days Creek, Ore., Montgomery graduated from California State University, Chico with an English degree. During college, he was a heavyweight boxer and tennis player.
Montgomery was a past president of the Tehama County Probation Officers Association, president of the Family Services Agency Board of Directors and a member of the Tehama County Peace Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife Melanie Montgomery of Red Bluff, brother Dana Montgomery of Corning ,half-brother and sister Lee Montgomery of Portland, and Juliane of Tacoma.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding, with the Rev. Jeff Frost officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Tehama County Peace Officers Association, P.O. Box 784, Red Bluff 96080.
JMB
Decorated Hero Reldon Montgomery dies at 51
A Red Bluff hero died Sunday in Redding.
Reldon Montgomery, 51, Tehama County Probation Department division director in charge of operations, was an unarmed probation officer when he tackled a prisoner who had grabbed a deputy's gun.
A deputy was escorting a prisoner from the Tehama County Health Center where he had been taken for treatment when the prisoner resisted and grabbed the deputy's gun, recalled Bill Cornelius.
Montgomery jammed the hammer's action with his thumb, and the officers were able to subdue the prisoner.
"Reldon was just passing by and immediately jumped in and assisted in controlling the prisoner," said Cornelius, who was Tehama County Chief Probation Officer at the time. "That's typical of the kind of person he was. If anyone was in a risky situation, Reldon was the first to jump in and assist." Montgomery received the Peace Officer Certificate of Valor from the California Attorney General in 1987 for his heroism in the incident, which occurred July 24, 1986. He was also named the 1986 Tehama County Employee of the Year.
"I've asked myself if I would have responded like that if I had seen a man with a gun," Cornelius said. "You'd like to think you would."
A 24-year employee, Montgomery was an "absolutely dedicated professional as a probation officer and was a friend to everyone," Cornelius said.
"He had a strong effect on a lot of people and was an integral part of the management team," said Chuck Young, Tehama County chief probation officer.
"The department is going to miss him," Young said. "He was an extremely valuable resource to all law enforcement agencies in the area and a personal resource to the people he worked with."
Montgomery started his career about 1980 as a part-time juvenile hall employee who worked every shift and responded every chance he could, Cornelius said. "Within a year or so, he came on over as a deputy probation officer. He was bright, articulate, a good man."
"He was a great guy, and everybody really liked him," said probation office manager Gayle Urban, who worked with Montgomery 20 years. "He will be missed."
Born Aug. 15, 1952, in Days Creek, Ore., Montgomery graduated from California State University, Chico with an English degree. During college, he was a heavyweight boxer and tennis player.
Montgomery was a past president of the Tehama County Probation Officers Association, president of the Family Services Agency Board of Directors and a member of the Tehama County Peace Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife Melanie Montgomery of Red Bluff, brother Dana Montgomery of Corning ,half-brother and sister Lee Montgomery of Portland, and Juliane of Tacoma.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding, with the Rev. Jeff Frost officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Tehama County Peace Officers Association, P.O. Box 784, Red Bluff 96080.
JMB
Rel is the son of Mariam Maughan Turner and Roland L. Montgomery, he is half brother to this writer.
Decorated Hero Reldon Montgomery dies at 51
A Red Bluff hero died Sunday in Redding.
Reldon Montgomery, 51, Tehama County Probation Department division director in charge of operations, was an unarmed probation officer when he tackled a prisoner who had grabbed a deputy's gun.
A deputy was escorting a prisoner from the Tehama County Health Center where he had been taken for treatment when the prisoner resisted and grabbed the deputy's gun, recalled Bill Cornelius.
Montgomery jammed the hammer's action with his thumb, and the officers were able to subdue the prisoner.
"Reldon was just passing by and immediately jumped in and assisted in controlling the prisoner," said Cornelius, who was Tehama County Chief Probation Officer at the time. "That's typical of the kind of person he was. If anyone was in a risky situation, Reldon was the first to jump in and assist." Montgomery received the Peace Officer Certificate of Valor from the California Attorney General in 1987 for his heroism in the incident, which occurred July 24, 1986. He was also named the 1986 Tehama County Employee of the Year.
"I've asked myself if I would have responded like that if I had seen a man with a gun," Cornelius said. "You'd like to think you would."
A 24-year employee, Montgomery was an "absolutely dedicated professional as a probation officer and was a friend to everyone," Cornelius said.
"He had a strong effect on a lot of people and was an integral part of the management team," said Chuck Young, Tehama County chief probation officer.
"The department is going to miss him," Young said. "He was an extremely valuable resource to all law enforcement agencies in the area and a personal resource to the people he worked with."
Montgomery started his career about 1980 as a part-time juvenile hall employee who worked every shift and responded every chance he could, Cornelius said. "Within a year or so, he came on over as a deputy probation officer. He was bright, articulate, a good man."
"He was a great guy, and everybody really liked him," said probation office manager Gayle Urban, who worked with Montgomery 20 years. "He will be missed."
Born Aug. 15, 1952, in Days Creek, Ore., Montgomery graduated from California State University, Chico with an English degree. During college, he was a heavyweight boxer and tennis player.
Montgomery was a past president of the Tehama County Probation Officers Association, president of the Family Services Agency Board of Directors and a member of the Tehama County Peace Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife Melanie Montgomery of Red Bluff, brother Dana Montgomery of Corning ,half-brother and sister Lee Montgomery of Portland, and Juliane of Tacoma.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding, with the Rev. Jeff Frost officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Tehama County Peace Officers Association, P.O. Box 784, Red Bluff 96080.
JMB
Decorated Hero Reldon Montgomery dies at 51
A Red Bluff hero died Sunday in Redding.
Reldon Montgomery, 51, Tehama County Probation Department division director in charge of operations, was an unarmed probation officer when he tackled a prisoner who had grabbed a deputy's gun.
A deputy was escorting a prisoner from the Tehama County Health Center where he had been taken for treatment when the prisoner resisted and grabbed the deputy's gun, recalled Bill Cornelius.
Montgomery jammed the hammer's action with his thumb, and the officers were able to subdue the prisoner.
"Reldon was just passing by and immediately jumped in and assisted in controlling the prisoner," said Cornelius, who was Tehama County Chief Probation Officer at the time. "That's typical of the kind of person he was. If anyone was in a risky situation, Reldon was the first to jump in and assist." Montgomery received the Peace Officer Certificate of Valor from the California Attorney General in 1987 for his heroism in the incident, which occurred July 24, 1986. He was also named the 1986 Tehama County Employee of the Year.
"I've asked myself if I would have responded like that if I had seen a man with a gun," Cornelius said. "You'd like to think you would."
A 24-year employee, Montgomery was an "absolutely dedicated professional as a probation officer and was a friend to everyone," Cornelius said.
"He had a strong effect on a lot of people and was an integral part of the management team," said Chuck Young, Tehama County chief probation officer.
"The department is going to miss him," Young said. "He was an extremely valuable resource to all law enforcement agencies in the area and a personal resource to the people he worked with."
Montgomery started his career about 1980 as a part-time juvenile hall employee who worked every shift and responded every chance he could, Cornelius said. "Within a year or so, he came on over as a deputy probation officer. He was bright, articulate, a good man."
"He was a great guy, and everybody really liked him," said probation office manager Gayle Urban, who worked with Montgomery 20 years. "He will be missed."
Born Aug. 15, 1952, in Days Creek, Ore., Montgomery graduated from California State University, Chico with an English degree. During college, he was a heavyweight boxer and tennis player.
Montgomery was a past president of the Tehama County Probation Officers Association, president of the Family Services Agency Board of Directors and a member of the Tehama County Peace Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife Melanie Montgomery of Red Bluff, brother Dana Montgomery of Corning ,half-brother and sister Lee Montgomery of Portland, and Juliane of Tacoma.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at All Saints Episcopal Church, 2150 Benton Drive, Redding, with the Rev. Jeff Frost officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Tehama County Peace Officers Association, P.O. Box 784, Red Bluff 96080.
JMB
