A funeral service for Churchill County Sheriff Richard Hickox Jr. is scheduled for this Saturday in Fallon.
The 1:00 p.m. service will be held at the 3C Event Complex, 227 Sheckler Road in Fallon. (a parking map appears below)
Hickox Jr. died last month due complications from cancer. He was elected in 2018 and served as sheriff for seven years.
UPDATE - APRIL 17:
Churchill County commissioners named Lee Orozco as the new Churchill County sheriff at a special meeting Friday morning, filling the position left by the death of Sheriff Richard Hickox on April 11.
Tenth District Court Judge Tom Stockard administered the oath to Sheriff Orozco in front of local law enforcement representatives and members of the Hickox family, who were present in support of the appointment.
Orozco will serve through early January 2027, completing the unexpired term until the winner of the November general election is sworn in. He has served with Churchill County for 30 years and has been undersheriff since 2022.
Officials also clarified election changes following the vacancy. The only candidate for Churchill County sheriff that will appear on the June 9, 2026, primary ballot will not have votes cast in that name counted.
New candidates may file declarations of candidacy for the general election between 8 a.m. on June 15, 2026, and 5 p.m. on July 24, 2026. For any questions about the process, contact the Churchill County Clerk/Treasurer’s Office by calling (775)423-6028 or emailing: elections@churchillcountynv.gov
UPDATE - APRIL 14:
After the loss of its longtime sheriff, Churchill County is now preparing for what comes next.
County commissioners will meet on Friday at 8:15 a.m. to appoint a new sheriff following the death of Sheriff Richard C. Hickox Jr.
The meeting will take place in chambers at 155 N. Taylor Street in Fallon and will be live-streamed online.
The person appointed will serve the remainder of the current term, which runs through the end of the 2026 calendar year.
The process to elect the next sheriff will follow state law. Under NRS 293.165, “…a person may become a candidate for the nonpartisan office at the general election if the person files a declaration of candidacy with the appropriate filing officer and pays the filing fee required by NRS 293.193 after 8 a.m. on the third Monday in June…and before 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday in July.”
Candidates for sheriff should file at the Churchill County Clerk/Treasurer’s office, located at 155 N. Taylor Street, Suite 110, during normal business hours.
Funeral services for Sheriff Richard C. Hickox Jr. are scheduled for Saturday. May 2nd, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the 3C Event Complex, 227 Sheckler Road in Fallon.
To honor the sheriff, the stadium lights at Churchill County High School will be turned blue from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. this week.
Sheriff Richard Hickox passed away on Saturday and a funeral will be held in May.
ORIGINAL STORY - APRIL 13:
The Churchill County Sheriff's Office has announced the passing of Sheriff Richard C. Hickox Jr. He died Saturday due to complications from cancer.
In a post on Facebook, the sheriff's office said, "Sheriff Hickox served the people of Churchill County for over 28 years. He started as a Detention Deputy, working up the ranks to Patrol Deputy, Investigator, Patrol Sergeant, Investigative Sergeant, Captain, and ultimately as our Sheriff. He was hardworking and dedicated, not only in community organizations and his church, but also served as a board member of the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association, where he recently completed his term as President of the organization. He will be missed not only by his immediate family but also by his brothers and sisters in blue, whom he has dedicated his life to serving for so many years."
Funeral arrangements will be released as they become available.
