Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack was honored with the Joseph Treadwell award at the Drug Education Council’s 19th annual luncheon this week, recognizing his long-running involvement in the organization’s substance abuse prevention efforts.
Mack, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement, has served as Baldwin County’s sheriff since his election in 2006. He holds a master’s degree in management from Troy University and currently serves as president of the Alabama Sheriffs Association, giving him a statewide platform alongside his local duties.
The award is named for Joseph Treadwell, who spent more than four decades in the Mobile automobile business before dedicating a significant portion of his estate to local charitable causes, including support for the Drug Education Council’s prevention programs.
In accepting the honor, Mack was quick to redirect credit to the officers he leads. “I accept it for the law enforcement officers who work every day,” he said, adding that law enforcement can play a meaningful role in addressing substance abuse alongside prevention and education efforts.
Mack also highlighted his working relationship with Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran, a past recipient of the same award, framing the partnership as emblematic of how closely the two counties’ law enforcement agencies collaborate on shared regional challenges. “We are Baldwin County and Mobile County, but we are one community,” Mack said.
The Drug Education Council has served the greater Mobile Bay region for nearly two decades, working with schools, families and law enforcement agencies to promote substance abuse prevention and treatment resources. Awards like the Treadwell honor are typically presented to community leaders whose work has extended beyond their formal job duties to support the council’s broader mission.
Mack’s recognition adds to a career that has spanned nearly three decades in law enforcement, with his current focus split between running day-to-day operations of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and representing sheriffs statewide through his role with the Alabama Sheriffs Association. Local officials say the cross-county partnerships championed by leaders like Mack and Cochran have become increasingly important as Mobile and Baldwin counties continue to grow together economically and socially.