INTERVIEWS WITH N. C. HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREES
Harry B. McKee and his wife, Edith, live at 3200 Beane Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27604. Telephone 919.878.5773. E-mail at harrybmckee@bellsouth.net
I served in the U. S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Quincy. The USS Quincy was a heavy cruiser that saw action at Utah Beach on D-Day (6-6-1944), followed by the battle for Cherbourg, France on 6-25-1944. We took part in the invasion of southern France during August 1944. President Roosevelt used our ship to attend the Yalta Conference in February 1945. After we returned with President Roosevelt, we were assigned to the Pacific theater as part of the 3rd Fleet. We took part in the air, sea and land invasion of Okinawa. We bombarded the coast of Japan in July 1945 and was in Tokyo harbor when the Japanese surrendered on 9-2-1945.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy, I began working for a power line construction company as a timekeeper. Colonel John Jenkins' father was a foreman of the right of way crew and in 1947 John came to work with us as a truck driver. John had applied for the North Carolna State Highway Patrol which in return gave me an interest in doing the same. In 1948, I wrote to the Patrol and received an application which I completed and submitted. During this period, I attended the Nashville Technical College, Nashville, Tennessee. I graduated in October 1949. Shortly after returning to my home in Whiteville, I was contacted by Sergeant Pridgen and interviewed concerning joining the Patrol. I reported to Troop B, Fayetteville and had a second interview by Lieutenant W. F. Bailey.
I was notified to report to Fort Bragg along with approximately 200 other applicants. We went before an Patrol Interview Board and sent home. Later, I was notified of my acceptance and directed to report to the SHP 13th Basic School in Chapel Hill. The school was six weeks in duration and ran from 1-15-1950 to 2-25-1950. We started with 60 members in the class and graduated 53. At that time there were only 40 vacancies, so some of my classmates were put in reserve status. I was sworn in on 3-1-1950 in the State Capital building. Captain W. B. Lentz was our Commandant and Lieutenant T. B. Brown was Executive Officer. I remember not being paid a salary while in Basic School.
After graduation, I was assigned to Kannapolis which was in Troop D at that time. Captain Lentz was the Troop Commander. My Training Officer was Patrolman W. C. Carnes. He was promoted to Corporal shortly after I finished field training. Carnes took over that position upon the retirement of Corporal E. M. Logan. Within a short time period, Corporal Carnes died of a heart Attack and he was replaced by Corporal E. C. Guy. In 1951, Troop D became Troop E and was established in Salisbury. We were now known as Troop E, District 6.
In February 1965 I was promoted and stationed in Albemarle, D-6 as a Corporal. In January 1968, I was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Raleigh, C-3. In August 1970, I was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and sent to Troop F headquarters. In September 1971, I was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and assigned to Troop E Headquarters. In 1973, I was promoted to Captain and assigned to Patrol Headquarters. In January 1974, The Patrol formed a new Troop in Monroe. I became the Troop Commander of this new Troop that had the responsibility for counties running east to west along the South Carolina border.
There were five Troops when I came on. They were A, B, C, D and E. The communication system left a lot to be desired and was very poor. There was not a car to car system and we used the old dynomotor link style radio. On most days, you were fortunate to reach out several miles for communications. Most tires on our patrol vehicles were recaps. We had to assist in the issuance of NC drivers license. In addition, we had to help with the weighing of trucks. We carried a set of mobile weight scales in the trunk of our patrol vehicles.
A normal work day consisted of 12 hours except on Saturdays and Sundays when we were expected to work 15 hours. We worked a six day week schedule. Very seldom did you have an opportunity to take a weekend off and this normally occurred during your vacation. Supervison was very relaxed as the large area to patrol and the small number of supervisor made contact minimal.
I had the opportunity to work many special assignments such as Vice-President Barkley, President John Kennedy, President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan visits to our state. Hurricane duty along the coast and the 60'-70's civil disturbances took up a lot of our time away from regular patrol. KKK rallys were of particular interest. The Henderson textile mill strike proved to be a tough assignment for the members of the Patrol. It was a human struggle that stretched in to many months. The Albemarle strike was much like the Henderson endeavor. Road side bombing in Anson County, Central Prison riots, toxic waste storage in Warren County and the shooting deaths of patrolmen all combined to make the duties of the patrolmen stressful but rewarding.
I served as the Assistant Commandant for the 38th Basic Patrol School in Chapel Hill. For the 40th Basic School, I was appointed the school Commandant. I have the distinction of being the only Corporal to serve as a Commandant.
I retired from the Patrol on 4-1-1985.
Since retiring, I have been active in my Church, Saint Marks Methodist Church. I have served on several committees and church boards. I became President of our Sunday School class and still serve as Usher. Life after retirement has been pleasant. The only sad part was our losing a daughter to breast cancer in 1994. Edith and I live a good and happy life together.
When I came on in 1950, there were a little more than 400 members of the Patrol. We had to work long hours and a lot of mileage to cover, but the public perception of the Patrol made our job a lot easier than it is today. We had the respect of the people in our community and very seldom had to resort to violence. The Troopers today have a different public to work for and very seldom know the motorist they are about to stop.
The most memorable and historical time for the Patrol was when Governor Luther Hodges appointed Ed Scheidt to become Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Scheidt's leadership brought about the professionalism of the Patrol that you see today.
We have two daughters, both professionally employed. One granddaughter who works as a US Customs officer and one grandson serving as a high school athletic director. We have eight great grandchildren which are a joy.
I keep in touch with other retirees in the area and am a member of the North Carolina Highway Patrol Retirees Association.
Edith and I invite you to call or come by for a visit if in the Raleigh area. We would love to hear from our many friends made over the years I spent on the Patrol.
Posted by: Bill Ethridge
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retired Trooper Harold D. Coley
I grew up in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. I joined the Air Force and entered active duty on June 1, 1956. I had numerous stations while in the Air Force. Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, Electronics School at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Lincoln Air Force Base, Lincoln, Nebraska, off base Communications Center. After 7 months I was transferred to Goose Bay Air Force Base, Goose Bay, Labrador, and 1 year later I was transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida. My son was born at MacDill Air Force Base Hospital and it cost me a whole $8.00. I was discharged from the Air Force on May 31, 1960 and upon returning to North Carolina I went to work for Southeastern Sight and Sound Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina. On September 1, 1960 I was employed with the Concord Police Department, Concord, North Carolina. I remained there until April 16, 1963 when I joined the NC Highway Patrol. I was interviewed by F/Sgt T. P. Hoffler. His first question was “Are you registered to vote?” When I said no, he replied “Do it tomorrow and register Democrat or don’t bother me any more.” I was sworn in as a State Trooper on April 16, 1963, and temporarily assigned to Statesville, NC. I rode with C. E. (Bud) Gaither before attending Patrol School. I attended Basic Patrol School from April 28, 1963 to July 31, 1963. On the day of the final examine I learned my wife was in labor at the hospital in Concord, NC. Sgt. G. A. Stewart was the School Commandant and he advised me that if I left before completing the final exam I would have to restart Basic School. We began the tests at 8:00 am and as fast as I could I finished the exam and left for home. All the way home I thought I had probably failed. This was a Saturday so I stayed at home until Sunday afternoon and returned to Chapel Hill. When I arrived Sgt. Stewart told me he needed to talk to me. That scared the heck out of me because I just knew I had failed. He informed me I had made a very high grade. We graduated on Wednesday, July 31, 1963 and I headed home to my wife and new baby daughter. I drove by the hospital and took them home in the Patrol car.
My first duty station was Statesville, NC. I trained with C. E. Gaither and sometimes rode with others. After about 20 months I left the Patrol and worked as an Insurance Adjuster. The company lied to me about my hours and offered no help. Instead of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, it was 12-14 hours a day, 6 days a week. When they refused to give me any help I had all I could handle. I went to Troop E Headquarters, Salisbury, NC and talked with Captain (Ham) Bailey. He told me I could apply for reinstatement but he would file it right there. He was pointing to the trash can. I went back to Statesville and called Colonel Dave Lambert. He told me to submit my request directly to him. He later called and said there was an opening in North Wilkesboro and that I should go check it out and call him back. I went to North Wilkesboro and met with Sgt. Mac Byrum. I was satisfied that was what I wanted so I called Colonel Lambert back. He told me to meet him at the Capital Building in Raleigh to be sworn in and then I would be issued a car and uniforms. After being sworn in I was told to report to Captain Bailey in Salisbury and then on to North Wilkesboro. Captain Bailey was surprised to see me. When he learned I had been sworn in he said “I’m always glad to get a good man back.” Quite a change from a few weeks earlier. I reported to North Wilkesboro where I stayed for 5 years. North Wilkesboro was a good duty station. In 1966 I was sent to Breathalyzer School and became the only operator in a four county area of Wilkes, Alleghany, Surry and Yadkin. Sometimes late at night I would have to drive 70 miles one way to run a test. In 1969 I was sent to the Chemical Test Supervisor School and was certified as a Chemical Test Supervisor. While in Wilkes County I was interviewed by a major magazine about the Breathalyzer and the article was printed.
I lived about one block from the shop of NASCAR legend Junior Johnson. At that time my first cousin was his engine builder and they worked on my Patrol car quite a lot. You never got bored in Wilkes County unless you wanted to. I stayed there 5 years and chased so many Bootleggers I could not count them. It was a thrill then but now just thinking about it scares me. The Patrol in Wilkes was like a family. We took care of each other. First Sgt. Mac Byrum was a great man to work for. I won’t mention some of the other 1st/Sgt’s because I don’t want to waste my time and yours. Let’s just say they were not that great.
In 1970 I traded stations with another Trooper who wanted to go west and I wanted to get back close to home. I volunteered to come to Salisbury. I remember the Captain asking me if I really knew what I was doing. I thought I did but after getting to Salisbury I learned it was a different world. The men just did not take care of each other as I had been used to. There were some very good ones to work with and some I did not get very close to. In the early 70’s there were several of us who attended Rowan Community College and Davidson Community College working on a Criminal Justice degree.
In 1973 my wife was diagnosed with colon cancer and the next few years were very bad. She died in March of 1977 and I thought my world had ended. My son at that time was 17 and my daughter was 13. I thought I would never date or marry again but that changed. A good friend kept after me to go out to eat with him, his girl friend and another lady. I kept saying no but later I did go. That lady turned out to be my present wife and we have been married 32 years. God blessed me with a great Christian wife the first time and again this time. We both sold the homes we had and built a new one. We had not been married long when Captain Blue Richardson called me at 7:00 am one morning and said he had a promotion for me. When I asked him where he said “Ahoskie.” I nearly laughed out loud but I held it. I informed him I would not go. He tried to make me change my mind but I refused. Apparently I made him very angry as he informed me I would never be offered another promotion. He made sure of that.
My last four years on the Patrol I was the Chemical Test Supervisor in Troop E. I had a 10 county area. One morning I was preparing to go to Troy, NC to service the Breathalyzer. When I checked on there was some ice and the dispatcher informed me the men in the District were behind on accident investigations. I took a call to one in the eastern part of the county. The road there was not icy but one car had rear ended another. I was able to get half way off the road. I had the blue lights and the four way flashers on. Suddenly I was hit from the rear by a 16 year old in a 1955 Chevy (like a Sherman Tank). He said he was going about 55 MPH and did not see me (he had over 300 ft visibility). It was hard enough that I was thrown against the back of the seat and the seat broke sending me back in the car. I immediately had severe pain in my neck, back and a bad headache. I was placed on sick leave for several months and then I convinced the doctor to let me go back to work. I was having balance problems and bad dizzy spells and my wife told me that if I did not tell the Patrol and the doctor she would. I was again placed on sick leave and for over a year had to go to Duke Hospital in Durham almost every week. I was told that my left inner ear was destroyed and that affected my balance and caused dizzy spells. The doctors there finally told me they would not release me and they informed the Patrol that I could never return to duty. I was retired on disability in late 1983. At that time I had 26.5 years service which included the Concord Police Department and credit for my Military which I had purchased. Shortly after retiring I had surgery on my neck and both shoulders to repair damage from the accident. I still have some dizzy spells but I have learned to compensate somewhat for the damaged inner ear, except when I have a cold or some type of infection. In 1992 my daughter who was at that time 29 years old died from breast cancer. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to face. We are not supposed to have to bury our children. I am basically in good health and am very thankful to God for that. My wife Kay and I are very active in Church and have been sponsors and leaders on mission trips. At times I still miss the Patrol but not very often. It’s mostly when some idiot is driving crazy near me. Kay and I welcome calls and visits. For security reasons I won’t list my physical address but I get mail at PO Box 237, China Grove, NC 28023. If you call I will give you my actual address. Telephone number: 704-857-9484, email: hcoleysr@carolina.rr.com
Posted by: Harold Coley
Have you talked with a retiree lately? Now is a good time to pick up the phone and call a friend.