Sheriff Buck Server

Buck Server was born in Michigan and lived in several other states before he settled in Alturas. During his school years, he he spent more time following rodeos than attending school. As an adult, Buck was a ranch hand and continued riding broncos in and around Modoc. He also boxed semi-professionally from 1926 to 1930 as a heavyweight and during that time met the renowned fighters Max Bear and Maxy Rosenbloom. Buck Server married Maud Ester Hawkins and they had three sons and one daughter. They made their home in Alturas. He started his law enforcement career when he was elected constable of the Alturas township in 1934. Between that time and when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Glyne Johnson, he was a deputy sheriff, an undersheriff and a probation officer for Modoc County. Server was known for his fearlessness. On several occasions when unarmed, Server disarmed gun-wielding subjects and made the arrests. He seldom carried a gun, but had his share of close calls. In one incident, he was called to a local tavern to deal with a drunk who was threatening people with a pistol. As Buck reached to get the man’s gun, the drunk fired and the hammer of the pistol caught the lawman in the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger. To quote then District Attorney Paul Baker, “Jeez, Server had guts.” Buck Server retired in 1962, but continued law enforcement for several years as a deputy in Washoe County, Nevada, tracking cattle rustlers. He died in 1990 at the age of 82.