Comments for Cape Girardeau History and Photos

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Keith Robinson

Keith Robinson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:32:28 +0000

Before reading any of the posts, I looked at the first picture and immediately thought that the trooper in the middle was Larry Strayhorn. I thought it was weird because I only had momentary contact with him once after he became a trooper and only because the Strayhorns lived on Patricia Street; the next street west from Dorothy St, my home street. Norman Copeland and his family lived directly behind us and diagonally northeast from the Strayhorns. Cape Girardeau police officer Robert Gas, lived directly across from the Copelands. Both Copeland and Strayhorn were cut from the same cloth; they were known for a no-nonsense, by the book attitude.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Ken Steinhoff

Ken Steinhoff — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:27:13 +0000

I remember those movies. I’d sit there and think, “I’ve seen worse than that.”

Of course, that made me a life-long seat belt fanatic.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Dick McClard

Dick McClard — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:23:31 +0000

I was looking at the photos as close as I could but couldn’t find the patrolman I was looking forward to seeing. I also read all the replys and again no mention of him. The person I most remember from Troop E and Central High school is Seargent Joe Mathhews. Remember the gory films and slides in the auditorium to scare us into safer driving? I was reminded of one of his visits to our Auto Mechanics class he said the guys were building car engines that could do over a hundred miles per hour but car bodies that wouldn’t stay on the ground over fifty-five.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Jack Crawford

Jack Crawford — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:43:19 +0000

Bob Mouser was my “break in officer”. Ed Wright was the zone sergeant. Bud Mills, Norman Copeland, and Tom Burger were also stationed in the zone. Bill Adams and I “swapped” assignments later in the year. Bill came to Jackson and I went to Kennett. Strayhorn and Sheible were stationed in Kennett before transferring to the Cape Zone. These were a great group of officers to train under and work with and I have the upmost respect for them.

Comment on Tucker Lamkin: “She’s a He!” by Jane Rutledge Hampson

Jane Rutledge Hampson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:40:35 +0000

Whoa – now THIS takes me back…my biggest memory of you, Tucker, is you making a paper duck’s bill and wearing it during a reading of some story – was it “Make Way for Ducklings”? You made learning fun! I was sure you would marry me someday.
Thanks for listing the class members. I had no idea that so many people I became friends with later were in my kindergarten class. Thanks for the pictures, Ken!

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by G. Paul Corbin

G. Paul Corbin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:56:47 +0000

First Photo Standing L – R, Trooper Frank Sheible, Trooper Jackie Crawford, Trooper Larry Strayhorn, Trooper Robert Mouser and Trooper Charles Whitehead.

The photo was taken inside of the Cape Girardeau Police Station which had been the Grace Methodist Church before being purchased by the City for a police station and city court. The sanctuary was used as the court room. At the time of this picture, the Highway Patrol had a “Zone Office” in the Cape PD Police Station which was later moved to Jackson in the Sheriff’s Office.

Jackie was “new” or probationary officer at the time the picture was taken and was in his “break in period.” He joined the Patrol 10-1-66 and was assigned to ride with one of the other officer’s present. Frank lived in Lutesville for most of his career. Larry left the Patrol to become a U.S. Deputy Marshall, Robert was promoted to Corporal then Sergeant and assigned to Popular Bluff not to long after the picture was taken and Charles “Charlie” retired as a Captain, Director of the Training Division and for a time was my boss in Jefferson City.

The uniform blouse or coat they have on was worn from Nov 1 – Mar 1 each year. It made a nice uniform but was very restrictive and is now only worn for ceremonial purposes.

The second picture was taken on the south side parking lot at the police station adjacent to the entrance to the Patrol Zone Office. The officers standing L – R are; Whitehead, Sheible, Mouser, Crawford and Strayhorn. The first two patrol cars are 1965 Ford Galaxies and the third is a 1966 Pontiac Catalina.

Note the Fords were the last MSHP cars to have single red light mounted directly to the vehicle roof and had no air conditioning. The Pontiac had the new innovative “visibar” with a siren in the middle which had a tendency to clog up with snow and ice in the winter months. 1966 models patrol cars were the first to have air conditioning. The Ford had sirens mounted under the hoods.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by David

David — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:55:30 +0000

Can’t help but notice how far they have come. The cars are a far cry from the technical marvels they use today.. And I bet not one has a bullet proof vest on..

BTW, my family used to have one of the old light fixtures from the sanctuary, but after leaving home I lost track of it.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Ken Steinhoff

Ken Steinhoff — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:17:15 +0000

Glad you spotted him.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Ken Steinhoff

Ken Steinhoff — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:16:29 +0000

I sorta thought that might have been where it was. Thanks.

Comment on Missouri Highway Patrol by Ken Steinhoff

Ken Steinhoff — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:15:56 +0000

The photo’s not that sharp, but you don’t need a magnifying glass when you have Van Riehl around. I figured he’d chime in with the names.