Scroll down for more information and dates of the next Hall Of History Meeting

After you've had time to research the questions on the News Page, the answers will be posted below.

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The oldest living SHP Civilian Retiree is Virginia W. Carter.  She was hired on 1 October 1935 for a position in Troop Headquarters, Greensboro.  She remained there until retiring on 31 July 1980.  She was married to First Sergeant W. C. Carter.  Virginia's sister was married to Lieutenant Teague.  Virginia has been a member of our organization, NCHPRA, since it's inception.

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Just when I think I have an easy question/answer, it turns out to require quite a bit of research.  As you recall, the retirement age for administrative officers was 65 and all enforcement officers had to retire at 62.  In 1974, just prior to turning 62, First Sergeant G. D. Dodson, Lumberton, filed a suit against the Highway Patrol for age discrimination.  He alleged in his complaint that he was as qualified to serve to 65 as an administrative officer.  For three years, Dodson nor the Patrol pushed for a hearing.  In June 1977, First Sergeant Dodson retired at the age of 65, rendering the lawsuit null and void.  During the time period of this suit, some elected to retire between 62 and 65, so it never became an issue.  The Patrol also took some steps to alleviate the problem by reclassifying some members.  A valued First Sergeant was moved from a field position to an administrative position and actually retired at 65 some six months after Dodson.  This brings us to 1978.  A decision is made by Patrol Headquarters with Departmental approval to change the retirement age for everyone one to 62.  Not the end of the story.  There were several administrative request by members to be allowed to continue to 65.  All of the request were denied by either the Department or the Governor's office.  In 1982-1983, Captain R. H. Nutt filed a suit requesting that he be allowed to continue in service until reaching the age of 65.  He cited the Dodson and First Sergeants' case from the mid seventies.  This suit did have a hearing and the retirement age of 62 for the Highway Patrol was upheld.  Since I like to keep a little suspense going, the unnamed First Sergeant was located in Troop C.  Who was this individual that retired six months after Dodson and the last to reach the 65 limit? 

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James P. Rhyne is the oldest living retired uniform member of the NC Highway Patrol. He was employed 1 September 1939.  Retired 3 October 1963.  Jim and his wife, Melrose, live in Graham County and was just featured in the local newspaper.  One of his classmates was E. C. Guy.

Oldest State Trooper recalls days chasing moonshiners by: Allyson Levine (10/6/2008)

Trooper James Rhyne during his days chasing moonshiners along the white liquor run from Wilkes County to Winston-Salem. James Rhyne remembers when North Carolina law enforcement officers spent their time chasing moonshine runners. He was one of the state troopers who worked the white liquor run between Wilkes County and Winston-Salem. “I cut my teeth on chasing moonshiners,” Rhyne said. Now 90 years old, Rhyne is the oldest living trooper in the state. And he’s a Lincoln County native. Rhyne grew up in Long Shoals. He says he made the decision to work for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol after talking with some local troopers. “I was buddying with some of the troopers at that time and I was getting around that age,” he recalled. In 1939, when he was about 22 years old, Rhyne went to work with the highway patrol in Yadkin County. That’s when he got into the dangerous job of chasing moonshiners. According to Rhyne, a federal agent was killed on the job just before he came on board. “They were just running wild when I first went there,” he said of the moonshine runners. Rhyne says he worked in Yadkin County for two or two and a half years before he was sent east to work on a special assignment in Jacksonville. He was there six months before returning to Yadkin County. While working in Yadkin County, Rhyne was mentored by Cpl. Lee Phillips. “He looked after me right well and taught me how to drive,” Rhyne said. “I rode shotgun for him.” Rhyne retired from the state patrol in 1963. He and his wife, Melrose, moved to Florida, where Rhyne spent 20 years working for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department. He retired as a lieutenant in 1983 and moved back to North Carolina. Rhyne now resides on a couple of acres in Graham County. “We call it a little piece of heaven,” he said. In addition to surviving the dangers of chasing moonshiners with the state patrol, Rhyne also lived through his days as an air photographer for the U.S. Navy in World War II. “It was okay if you didn’t crash,” Rhyne said of the job that had him taking pictures of submarines from high above the ground. “That was a dangerous job. … I thought I was going to have to bail out several times.” It seems Rhyne has always been a man in the middle of the action. As one of his friends has said of him, “It’s hard to hit a moving target.” After two years in the military and 44 years in law enforcement, Rhyne is still around. “I’m still hanging on,” he said. Rhyne says he doesn’t have much family left in Lincoln County. He says his youngest sister died several months ago, leaving him the only living sibling from the family. And while he may be North Carolina’s oldest living state trooper, Rhyne isn’t so sure he should have the title. “They keep saying I am,” he said. “I keep trying to tell them I’m young, but they don’t believe it.”

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First Highway Patrol Training School

The school began May 20, 1929, at Camp Glenn near Morehead City, North Carolina. Of the original 400 applicants who applied for admission, 67 were selected to report to the school. Only 42 men completed the school and 37 members were chosen to receive the Oath of Office in the State Capitol Building in Raleigh. Monthly salaries for the original members were: Commander, $200.00; Lieutenant, $175.00; and, Patrolmen, $150.00. By 1935, salaries had been reduced on three occasions and Patrolmen were making only $87.50 per month.

This is the 1st uniform of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Note the early style visor cap, the bow-tie, and the rounded 1st issue coat patch on the shoulder. Although the uniform has changed since 1929, the proud tradition of service to our State has not.

When the Patrol was started in 1929 this patch was worn on shirts, but only for two years until 1931. The same design patch was worn on coats, but had a rounded shape.

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Changes and Growth

In 1931, the General Assembly increased the Patrol to 67 members and reduced the number of lieutenants to six. The Patrol was increased in size in 1933 to 121 members. Patrolmen were relieved of gasoline inspection duties and given responsibilities for issuing driver licenses and enforcing the new driver license laws. All patrolmen were assigned individual vehicles in 1937, and during the same year the legislature authorized a statewide radio system for the purpose of coordinating operations and improving the efficiency of the Highway Patrol. Numerous executive, legislative, and administrative changes have occurred since the Patrol's creation. The duties and responsibilities have varied, different ranks have been designated, and the organizational structure has been modified to improve efficiency. The Patrol, a semi-military organization, currently consists of five sections, each having specific duties and responsibilities. These sections are: Administrative Services; Technical Support Unit; Office of Professional Standards; Training; and Field Operations, the enforcement arm of the Patrol.

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Future HOH meetings will be held on a quarterly  basis.  We are continuing work and using e-mail for most correspondence.  We are attempting to put together accurate records concerning Basic Schools and other training matters.

We are still trying to find some method of financing the purchase of video cameras to record the history of our older retirees. The idea is to have each Troop TSI go out into the field and conduct oral and visual interviews for future use.

If you would like to have input in the process, please contact me by phone or e-mail.  The committee will be relying on retirees for assistance in the future.  As always, I'll keep you posted on this web site.