Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the FHS Demon Baseball team's final home game was Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith.
Jason is a graduate of McKinley High School who joined the United States Marine Corp after graduating with honors from Louisiana State University. As an infantry officer he commanded Marines at every rank during his service, including two combat deployments to Iraq as a company commander. It was during his second deployment that he was awarded the Silver Star after the Battle of Fallujah. He would go on to serve for 22 years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2016.
After his service he returned to take over his family's farm in Mt. Hermon that was established in 1892, and it is now known as Smith Angus Farm.
In November 2023, Jason was elected Sheriff of Washington Parish. He took over office on July 1, 2024. His wife is the former Rebekah Alford of Mt. Hermon who is a sixth-grade teacher at Franklinton Elementary. Together they have five children who are graduates of FHS or attend Franklinton schools.
Catching the Sheriff was first baseman Elisha Hart, the Demons’ lone senior this season.
