A senseless tragic event occurred in our family on the evening of January 16, 1986. That evening Seldon Thomas Dixon, Sr. of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, died outside his home at the hands of a ruthless robber.
Seldon and his wife, Ann, operated a small grocery store known as Dixon’s 21st Street Market that they had opened in 1953 in Hopkinsville. They operated one of the few remaining “mom and pop” groceries in the community, and they were not a stranger to violence. Several years before, Seldon was robbed and beaten outside his 21st Street Grocery. Since then, he had been known to carry a gun when heading home from the store each night.
On the evening of January 16, the couple closed their grocery around 10 p.m. and drove to their rural home on Pembroke Road about five miles southeast of Hopkinsville. Dixon was attempting to open the carport door after he and Mrs. Dixon had pulled their car up to the house to light the area with the vehicle’s headlights. The gunman came out from behind the house and asked him for his money. During the confrontation, Dixon dropped a grocery sack that contained a money bag. Evidently, the robber reached down to pick it up as Mr. Dixon stepped back. Dixon, who also was armed with a .38 caliber pistol that was being carried in a holster, was shot seconds later, It was not known if he went for his gun or not. The gunman then approached Mrs. Dixon, and demanded additional money and the keys to the store. The gunman then fled the scene on foot, running behind the house. In addition to the money band and store keys, the robber also apparently stole the victim’s pistol since only the holster was found at the crime scene. Dixon was still alive after the shooting. His wife got him up and drove him to the hospital. He walked into the hospital on his own with assistance from his wife. Mrs. Dixon was able to give authorities an eyewitness account of the crime. He had a mask or stocking on his face. Although Mrs. Dixon did not recognize the gunman’s voice, she said he had some type of accent. Dixon was immediately taken into surgery, but unfortunately he died at 1:45 a.m. during the surgery.
As news of Dixon’s death spread through his neighborhood the following morning, there were reactions of shock and anger. At the victim’s home, where a tree-lined driveway leads to the comfortable ranch-style brick residence, horses were grazing in a back field and a worker was feeding the livestock. It was difficult for friends and neighbors to grasp the reality of the terror that filled the previous night. But the evidence was inescapable. Remaining beside the carport door was a spilled, torn bag of groceries and a pair of glasses and shoes. At the front door, a pane had been broken out by the son later in his effort to get inside the house after the robber had jammed all the locks.
The following day the Hopkinsville Sheriff’s investigators arrested Marvin Eugene Francis, 26, for the crime and he was charged with first degree murder and first degree robbery. Sheriff Deputies said Dixon’s assailant was described on a sheriff’s department report as a white male, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, thin in build, possibly having a mustache and wearing a light colored windbreaker, light colored trousers, ski mask and billed cap. Francis fit that physical description. Dillard said an anonymous tip led to his arrest. Francis was subsequently tried for the crime and was sentenced to life in prison.
Seldon Thomas Dixon was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Hopkinsville. He was 57 years old. A native of Trigg County, born November 22, 1929, was the son of the late Albert and Etna Thomas Dixon. He was a member of the Church of Christ. In addition to his wife, Elizabeth Ann Gray Dixon, survivors included a son and a daughter. His wife died on May 26, 2012.
THE LINEAGE:
(Seldon Thomas Dixon, Sr. was the son of Albert Carlton and Etna Lee Thomas Dixon, grandson of Robert Henry and Virginia Lee Ezell Thomas and great grandson of Rufus King and Alvie Adeline Dunn Thomas. Rufus King was the fifth child of Perry and Elizabeth Josephine Bridges Thomas. Perry was the third child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Elizabeth Josephine was the sixth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
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