Son Steven Sollie from left , granddaughter Reese Sollie , former Sheriff Billy Sollie , grandson Beaux Powell and wife Diann Sollie share a moment during Sollie ’ s retirement reception .
justice department ,” he said . Twenty years after he first enrolled in college in 1973 , Sollie graduated from USM with his bachelor of science degree in criminal justice on May 14 , 1993 . The third — and most cherished — event in his personal life was the couple ’ s adoptions of their children , Steven Sollie and Caitlin Sollie Powell , who died from cancer in November 2019 . “ Our son was our first adoption , and I remember sitting at my desk at the police department and my phone rings . I answer the phone and my wife says ‘ Hello , daddy ,’” said Sollie , choking up with tears over the recollection . “ Got off the phone and I walk out in the hallway and I told everybody , ‘ Hey we are going to have an adoption .’ And they say , well , what is it . And I said , ‘ I don ’ t know . I forgot to ask .’” Steven , who currently works as a travel nurse in the state of Washington , was 10 months old when they brought him home to Meridian from New Orleans . Sollie said they were extremely blessed to be able to go through a second adoption for their daughter Caitlin , who was less than a month old when they brought her home . “ She was daddy ’ s little girl ,” said Sollie , once again getting emotional with his story . “ We are blessed in that our son gave us a granddaughter and our daughter gave us a grandson ,” he said . Spending more time with his grandchildren is one of the things he is looking forward to about retirement .
Living the retired life No honey-do list is waiting on him in retirement , mainly
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because he stays on top of those requests , he said . Nor is there a bucket list of must-see places . But Sollie has plans for filling the new time he has on his hands . An avid outdoorsman , Sollie hopes to spend his initial days chasing a trophy buck he missed out on in earlier hunting seasons . Warmer days might tempt him to bring out the fishing gear . “ My wife and I live on a lake that is overstocked and under fished . I have recently purchased a boat . I have 1,400 acres of property leased next to my subdivision that I manage for hunting purposes ,” he said . “ So I ’ ve got dirt to play in and water to play on .” Sollie also will have more time to spend cooking , a favorite pastime , and cheering on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles . He and his wife hope to spend more time traveling with a cruise through the Panama Canal already planned for this spring . In this new chapter of life , Sollie will not have to worry about a dispatcher calling him to the scene of an accident or incident , interruptions Sollie admits he will sometimes miss . “ It ’ s been a fabulous career . I have been blessed to have men and women around me that had the right mindset , the right mentality to do the job ,” he said . “ When you ’ ve worked for forty-nine and a half years in a profession , you come in contact with those who have become weak and have made inappropriate decisions that always let you down , always disappoint you , particularly as the boss or the leader . But , again , those men and women around me that have challenged me to be a better person daily , I cherish those people .” M
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