To Serve & Protect A Collection Of Memories © 2006, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Public Information and Education Division 1 2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Pg. 4 1980 INTERVIEWS: Pgs. 5-88 Matilda “Tillie” Sonnen (1931-1971) 6-15 George B. Kahler (1931-1965) 16-25 Thomas E. “Tom” Whitecotton (1931-1965) 26-33 Herbert D. “Herb” Brigham (1932-1961) 34-43 Glenn W. Lampley (1935-1970) 44-47 Roy F. “Pappy” Dix (1937-1961) 48-56 Herbert F. “Herb” Wickham (1937-1966) 57-62 Robert E. “Nookie” Lee III (1943-1976) 63-69 Herbert “Herb”Walker (1943-1972) 70-76 Herbert H. “Herb” Lee (1950-1973) 77-87 2005 INTERVIEWS: Pgs. 89-161 Harry W. Duncan (1937-1973) 90-95 Thomas W. “Tom” Pasley (1939-1972) 96-103 Walter E. Wilson (1942-1969) 104-110 James D. “Doc” Harris (1948-1982) 111-112 Paul V. Volkmer (1949-1987) 113-119 Ralph M. Rider (1949-1979) 120-129 Donald E. “Don” Selvey (1953-1989) 130-134 Ronald A. “Ron” Selvey (1953-1989) 135-141 Robert J. “Bob” Hagan (1958-1992) 142-146 Maurice B. “Rip” Russell (1958-1988) 147-152 Charles F. “Frank” Durham (1962-1996) 153-156 Dale P. Shikles (1970-2006) 157-161 (The years in parentheses refer to employment dates.) 3 INTRODUCTION To commemorate the Patrol’s 50th anniversary in 1981, Sgt. Charles E. Walker created a book entitled, “Trooper”, a compilation of 10 interviews with Patrol retirees. Twenty-five years later, these interviews have become part of our treasured history. The Patrol owes Sgt. Walker (who is now retired and resides in Jefferson City, Missouri) a debt of gratitude for preserving the memories of these pioneers. It is now 2006, and the Patrol is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the Public Information and Education Division is printing a book called “To Serve & Protect”. In this edition, you’ll find the original interviews by Sgt. Walker, and 12 recent interviews by Public Information Specialist III Cheryl D. Cobb, Q/PIED. As Sgt. Walker said in the preface of “Trooper”: For those of you whose long-time friends are featured in these pages, we hope your reading brings back fond memories. For those of you who are meeting these Patrol employees for the first time, we trust the experience is a pleasant one. Sincerely, Captain Christian T. Ricks Q/PIED 4 1980 INTERVIEWS 5 MATILDA “TILLIE” SONNEN With a career that spanned four de- cades and part of a fifth, Tillie Sonnen owns the distinction of having the longest working career of any Highway Patrol em- ployee: 40 years. She was there at the Patrol’s modest beginning and witnessed the growth of the department to a force of over 700 officers. Always a dedicated em- ployee, Tillie exhibits a ready humor and zest for life, undiminished by the passage of time. “If they like you, they’ll hire you perma- nently. If they don’t, you’re gone, no ques- tions asked.” That’s what I was told before taking temporary employment at the Missouri Highway Department Headquarters here in Jefferson City. It was February of 1931, and I was glad to find a job, even if it was only for a few weeks, because the hatch- ery where I’d worked for seven and a half years had closed, leaving me unem- Matilda “Tillie” Sonnen ployed. I started in the secretarial pool, working beside my roommate, Hilda Lewis Ellis, of Bethany,—as the first su- Hutchinson, who still lives with me today. perintendent. The bill became effective on When one of the divisions needed a typ- September 14, so there was a great deal ist, they’d call down and we’d work for one of work to be done in a short time. Appli- fellow until a particular project was com- cations had to be printed, sent out, and pleted, then be assigned to someone screened when they came back; appli- else. Hilda had started working there in cants had to be tested, and the very struc- September of 1930, and was soon as- ture of the Patrol had to be planned — all signed a permanent job in one of the divi- in the space of a few months. sions, but I remained in the pool. Though I One day in July, Moe Dribben, the per- didn’t know at the time, this was the best sonnel manager for the Highway Depart- place I could have been, for it led directly ment, two other secretaries, and I — to my career with the Patrol. principally because I had no permanent Governor Caufield signed the bill creat- assignment — were sent over to the ing the Highway Patrol on April 24, and governor’s office to help process letters soon thereafter named his secretary— from prospective applicants for the Patrol. 6 terned mostly after the New Jer- sey State Police, but they also visited Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan. Although the Patrol Act called for a force of 125 officers, lowered appropriations reduced the number to 55, of which six were captains and 49 were troopers. Besides Means, two other men were named captains before recruit training began: Louis Eslick and Albert Sheppard, both of whom helped in the selection process. The other three were named later: Thomas Leigh, when he began training, and William Baxter and Trooper J.D. Ellis is shown working in the fingerprint Schuyler French at the end of room at General Headquarters. training. During the English examina- tion for Patrol candidates, I re- We found a filing cabinet filled with over member checking one fellow’s that read, “I 5,000 letters requesting applications; they arrived at the axident scene at 10 p.m.” I were in no particular order, just pitched in showed it to Sheppard. as they arrived in the mail. The four of us sorted them by county, weeded out those “Reads okay to me, Tillie,” he chuckled. who were too young, too old, ineligible for “He wrote it like it sounded.” some other reason, and sent out applica- tions. In the meantime, the two secretar- From July to September we worked ies returned to the Highway Department, from 8 a.m. until 6 or 7 p.m. There was so leaving Moe and I to study the applica- much to do, and we were anxious to have tions when they arrived. After screening everything ready by the 14th. One of the out more men who didn’t qualify, we set girls working with us complained. “I’ve had up an examination schedule according to it!” she said. “I was hired to work eight to senatorial districts and notified candidates five and I’m not going to work any more when to appear for their tests. While we long hours!” Well, I thought, you haven’t handled the applications, Superintendent been out of work for awhile like I have. Ellis, his assistant, Major Lewis Means Heck, I was just glad to have a job. (actually a captain, but called “major” from September passed, then October, and his military rank), and the legal counsel of Moe Dribben and I were still “temporarily” the Highway Department, Marvin Krause, assigned to the Patrol. “You can stay on toured several states, investigating their here, I’ll bet,” said Dribben. “They’ll need state police organizations for ideas on a secretary and you’ve been with them how to organize the Missouri Patrol and to from the first. I’ll be going back before look at their uniforms, cars, and other long, but something tells me they’ll keep equipment. Our organization was pat- you if you want to stay.” But as November 7 began and the graduation date for the first (seven sergeants had been named state- class of recruits approached, I hadn’t wide in addition to the six captains), and heard anything definite. Troopers Harry Hansen, Ray Cushman, Colonel Ellis invited me to ride with him Jim McCann, Paul Burge, and Gilbert to the graduation ceremonies in St. Louis. Fowler. On the way down he said, “Miss Sonnen, I I’ll never forget the morning the first re- don’t know whether anyone has told you ports arrived from the field. As stenogra- or not, but I’ve asked that you be trans- pher, I was supposed to type up the ferred to the Patrol permanently. I hope summaries, but Sergeant Howard was so you like it.” excited and curious, that he grabbed the Like it? Why, I was thrilled to death! It reports and typed them himself. I kidded was a new organization, the first statewide him about it later on. “Boy, you’re not as police organization in the history of the anxious to total up those reports as you state. I can’t describe how exciting it was were the first day,” I said. to be there at the beginning, just being You can understand our enthusiasm, part of it, seeing it grow and develop, though. We had no idea what the reports meeting and working with the officers, would be like, what adventures the offic- sharing their experiences. ers would encounter. Some of them were General Headquarters and Headquar- funny. I still have a service rendered slip ters Troop (now Troop F) occupied two dated February 20, 1932, and signed by rooms in the Capitol building when we Means and Howard that reads, “Removed started. I worked for both the troop and very dangerous piece of auto casing from GHQ. Colonel Ellis’s secretary, Rose the road. Then slowed down to avoid hit- Bender, and I were the only stenogra- ting hens (very valuable service).