All Panolians benefitted from public service of former District Three Supervisor during his one four-year term from 1992-96.
Following the death of then board president David Ross Craig early in that term, Darby worked his way to be elected president of the five member supervisor board, unusual step for a freshman supervisor.
During his shortened term as president Panola County began construction of a new jail, established curbside garbage service and worked through a devastating ice storm that crippled Panola and surrounding counties.
The new jail which has since had an addition, replaced the former jail that the late Sheriff David Bryan warned for years, “Was a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
An earlier attempt to replace the antiquated facility had been rebuffed by voters.
Though Panola had gone to a county-wide garbage service prior to Darby’s term as board president, the county collected garbage only from dumpsters placed throughout the county. Those dumpsters were often overfilled and quickly became a dumping ground for dead animals and discarded furniture and appliances, guaranteeing an eyesore in every crossroad and hamlet where they had been strategically placed. Roadside ditches, gullies and bridges were also used as garbage receptacles.
Despite an uproar from some citizens who vowed never to pay for a service they didn’t think they needed, Darby pushed through the curbside concept and garbage has been collected door to door since.
When Ice Storm ‘94 crippled the county, Panola benefitted by seeking federal assistance, charging FEMA the going rate for using its own equipment and manpower to clear road right-of-way. FEMA  funds reimbursed to the county amounted to hundreds of thousands which were used to purchase road paving equipment. Although most roads were paved after Darby left office, it was the federal money paid back to the county during his administration that purchased the equipment that allowed the county to begin serious paving.
Darby’s command of parliamentary procedure, honed in high school when he had served as president of both the South Panola and state chapters of the Future Farmers of America, raised the decorum and efficiency of supervisor meetings.
Despite those positive accomplishments, Darby was quick to join an argument and took it personally when a verbal attack was made on Panola County or its policies.
Three members of that board, all from the south end of the county and including Darby, were defeated for the following term.
If that much can be accomplished in four years, maybe term limits isn’t such a bad concept.