By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
May 7, 2008
 Three former Carrollton area state troopers - who are now retired - have a combined total of 61 years with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).
They include George Litt, who served as a Patrolman II from July 1, 1952, to July 1, 1963; Ralph Lucas, who retired in 1989 with 29 years, and Dale McCort, who retired in 1974 with 21+ years.
During his 11 years of service with the OSHP, Litt was assigned to Patrol Posts at New Philadelphia, Coshocton, Carroll and Medina Counties and Castalia.
Lucas started as a dispatcher at the New Philadelphia Highway Patrol Post in 1960, worked as a Trooper with the Akron Patrol Post from 1961-67, was promoted to Corporal at the Massillon Patrol Post from 1967-69 and served as Post Commander of the Wooster Patrol Post from 1974-77. From 1977 until his retirement in 1989, Lucas was a Staff Lieutenant at the Massillon District headquarters of the OSHP which covers Stark, Wayne, Ashland, Holmes, Lorain, Medina and Summit counties.
McCort graduated from the Patrol's Academy in November 1953 and retired in November 1974, holding the rank of Post Commander or Lieutenant at the time of his retirement with 21 + years of service.
McCort was first assigned to the Bridgeport Post (now St. Clairsville) which covers Belmont and Monroe counties from 1953-63. He was promoted to Assistant Post Commander and transferred to Castalia on the Ohio Turnpike (replacing George Litt who had resigned) covering the middle 80 miles of the Ohio Turnpike from 1963-67.
He was then assigned as Commander of the North Zone Tactical Squad in the Austintown area for six months and was promoted to Post Commander and transferred to the Hamilton Post, which covers Butler and Hamilton counties with a new rank of Sergeant from 1967-69.
McCort was then promoted again to Lieutenant and transferred to St. Mary's Post (now Wapakoneta) which covers Auglaize and Mercer counties from 1969 until his retirement in 1974.
When asked about any outstanding investigations or incidents, Litt recalled the time he arrested the Baron Café perpetrators at a road block in Harlem Springs in the late 1950s. He also related his experiences of breaking up a truck theft ring in Canton and a manhunt for the four burglars who broke into Mills Jewelry, then located on Canton Rd. in the mid-1950s.
Lucas recalled handling a homicide in Summit County in 1964 and serving as the personal bodyguard for Gov. Robert Tiemann of Nebraska for two weeks at the National Governor's Conference in Cincinnati in 1969.
He also recovered the administration building at Akron University with his SWAT team that had been taken over by demonstrators in 1969 and helped evacuate students from Kent State University after the 1970 shootings.
"I also led motorcades for President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush, and have autographed pictures with both of them," he said.
McCort recalled investigating a fatal traffic accident involving a Post Commander from an adjoining county Post in which a Commander of the Van Wert Post was killed. He also apprehended an individual wanted for murder in Kansas who was armed and made three DUI arrests on the same road and shift within one hour.
"I made two DUI arrests from the same car at the same time when the drivers switched positions while driving," he quipped.
All three men - like most State Highway Patrolmen - were assigned duty at the annual Ohio State Fair. In recalling those remembrances, Litt said:
"Yes, it was very unglamorous with heavy traffic duty. I also worked the Buckeye football games and we sat on the sidelines during the games," he recalled.
Lucas described the Ohio State Fair as a blast to work "You got to enjoy a lot of the entertainment that other people paid to see. However, I was assigned the hog barns both years and I worked the fair for 12 hours per day. I then understood what a farm background gets you into," he jokingly added.
McCort recalled working the Ohio State Fair as a Cadet in training in 1953 and said he has good remembrances, noting the fair was not as hectic as it is today.
When asked how the Patrol and overall law enforcement has changed, all three men had different views.
"Drug abuse was just starting when I left the Patrol and I imagine that now affects law enforcement considerably". He also noted the Patrol is now unionized and has modern communication systems.
Lucas recalled that he was in law enforcement before Miranda came along. "Miranda made us better investigators rather than depending on a confession from the perpetrator of the crime".
"We went from no speed detecting devices to VASCAR, moving radar and now lasers. They also have much better alcohol/drug testing equipment and DNA testing is great," he added.
Lucas also noted that video equipment is installed in each cruiser, and troopers have much higher levels of education. Unionization. Was that good?
"I think law enforcement in general has lost touch with the people we serve. They all need to activate a public relations program where we convince the public we are in their best interest," Lucas stated.
McCort said we did not have minorities, either blacks or women during that period. There were less drug problems and we did not have a Patrol Union which they now have.
"It's (the Union) not good in my opinion. The problems with personnel were handled at the Post level and swift punishment was leveled - usually dismissal. But, it's still a fine organization," he added.
All three men answered affirmatively when asked if they would recommend a recruit to enter the OSP and why.
Litt said: "Very definitely. The OSHP has excellent training and it is interesting and exciting work".
Lucas responded by saying "absolute
ly."
"The Patrol is the best law enforcement agency of this type in the country. It has the greatest people to work with and best equipment money can buy, along with good pay and benefits."
However, he pointed out very few that apply ever make it into the organization. "They flunk out on the background and if they get to the Academy they flunk on the physical or academic requirements," he said.
"We are all put on this earth by our Creator for a reason. I was put here to be a 'Sheepdog' to watch over the 'flocks' of people and to protect them from the evil and negative elements. That made the job very self satisfying to me," he continued.
"Whether you were protecting the people from the unsafe and drunk/drugged drivers, helping injured at traffic crashes or protecting them from the criminal that might do physical harm to them, it is all self-fulfilling," he added.
"If you do not have the desire to be a sheepdog you will never last in any law enforcement agency. Is it a dangerous job? Maybe. I never shot at anybody or was shot at in 29 years. The biggest danger is traffic," Lucas commented.
McCort also answered "yes, definitely" to the question.
"It is an excellent organization with great benefits and satisfaction in your work. The job has good retirement, excellent salary, a chance for advancement and overall good reputation," he remarked.
When asked if they are enjoying retirement and how, Litt, now 80, said "very much so". I play a little golf (very badly) and my wife Susan and I are in the process of moving to 435 Lincoln Ave. NW, Carrollton". They previously resided in Frostproof, FL.
Lucas, now 68, who retired from the Highway Patrol June 2, 1989, and a friend put together a consulting business that year where they reconstructed traffic crashes for law firms and did fleet safety for major fleet companies.
"Over a three-year period we lectured in 75 major cities across the USA," he recalled.
"Shortly after retirement I hired on at the Dellroy marshal's office to keep my law enforcement commission current. I had something else in mind. I was elected Carroll County Sheriff in November of 1996 and retired in January of 2005.
"I am still a reserve deputy in Harrison County. If I make it until September of 2010, I can proudly say I have served the citizens of Ohio in law enforcement for 50 years.
"I still teach law enforcement at Traynor's Police Academy, cook at the Pelican Club, dabble in old cars and farm tractors and plant a huge garden.
"I spend as much time with friends and family as possible. I have never found time in retirement to get bored," he added. Ralph and his wife, Dena, reside on Kensington Rd., north of Carrollton.
After retiring from the Patrol in 1974, McCort, now 79, went to work for Sheller-Globe Corp. in Toledo as a Corporate Director of Security. After working there for 15 years he retired again in 1989 and became Regional Planning Director for Carroll County, leaving that job due to health problems in 1991.
"My wife, Doris and I now travel as much as possible. We have visited 48 states, traveled to Europe six times and visited 17 foreign countries. We spend 2-3 months each winter in the south, lately at St. Simons Island, GA.," he added.
(Writer's note: The Free Press Standard would like to acknowledge the cooperation of Lieutenant Eric M. Escola of the New Philadelphia Post of the OSHP for providing the cruiser used for the photo accompanying this article in the observance of the Patrol's 75th anniversary) |
