Holt Coffey
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Holt Coffey (2 August 1891–January 1964)[1] was the sheriff of Platte County, Missouri from 1933 until 1937 and again from 1941 until 1945. Coffey, who along with newly elected Platte City Prosecutor David Clevenger, was responsible for cleaning up much of the small time crime around Platte County. During Coffey's first term as sheriff, Bonnie and Clyde and friends checked into the Red Crown Tourist Court south of Platte City. Coffey and his sixteen-year-old son Clarence were both injured during the resulting shootout. While Clarence suffered a wound in his arm that at one time was considered life-threatening, the elder Coffey sought no treatment for his minor wounds. An expert marksman, Coffey was a one time minor-league baseball player. The Coffey family maintained a close relationship with Blanche Barrow, with Blanche claiming the Coffeys were more kind than her own family.
Coffey owned the Red Crown Tavern from 1945 to 1950. He became a county commissioner in 1956. He died at age 72 in 1964.
