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Courtesy-Service-Protection:: The Iowa State Patrol
Courtesy-Service-Protection The Iowa State Patrol Author:Scott Fisher In 1932, an elderly widow didsomething seemingly impossible -she was elected as Iowa's first femaleSecretary of State. Ola Babcock Miller proceeded todo something else seemingly impossible -create a Highway Safety Patrol for herhome state. She promoted it with a single platform: 'Save LivesFirst!' Her vision and determination inspired the birth ... more »of a lawenforcement agency that Iowans have voted as 'Second only to God'when it comes to their trust. This is the story of Mrs.Miller's vision and how it evolved from the 'First Fifty' men of theIowa Highway Safety Patrol in 1935 to the men and women of the modern IowaState Patrol. It is also the story of Iowa's history, beginning with the comingof the automobile at the start of the 2Oth century. It continues withthe muddy ruts that passed for early state roads, to the gangsters andbootleggers who saw the automobile as a means to expand their opportunities,and the development of the modern US Highway system. Killer tornados, planecrashes, massive floods, prison riots, and sub-zero blizzards have all beenpart of the Iowa State Patrol's jurisdiction. So have organ donor relays,safety education, drug awareness, security for visiting celebrities, and aid tostranded motorists. The members of the Iowa State Patrol have upheld theiroriginal motto of 'Courtesy-Service-Protection' and have an enormousaffect on every man, woman, and child who live in or pass through Iowa. Scott Fisher has spent more thana decade researching state historical and ISP archives, as well as interviewingthe men and women who have helped shape the Iowa State Patrol. Much of thisbook is told in their own words, including the reminiscences of members of that'First Fifty' class of 1935, which included Scott's great uncle,Russell J. Fisher. Also included are almost 300 photographs, some of them neverbefore published. Scott is a 4th generationeducator, having taught and coached for over 25 years at the high school andcollege levels. He enjoys writing about his na« less