ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q3-2025

John Simmons THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT Historically Speaking

FBINAA.ORG | Q3 2025

I attended the Chapter Leadership Summit (CLS) earlier this year, an annual event that brings Chapter Presidents, Secretary/Trea surers, and other key chapter leaders back to Quantico for three days of meetings, presentations, and interaction. What a wonder ful opportunity to say hello to old friends and colleagues while making new acquaintances. Being at the FBI National Academy also allowed me to do some historical research. I often receive inquiries from members about significant historical events. Sadly, there are no closets filled with letters from Director Hoover or other communications from the distant past. The best source of historical information remains the session yearbooks and the larger historical yearbooks printed on select anniversaries, the most recent of which was the 75th Anniversary Edition (which is still available online). I had the opportunity to address the CLS attendees and asked that each chapter consider appointing a historian. The real source of our Association’s history rests soundly in each of our chapters. Some chapters already have very active historians, and I truly appreciate all the time and effort they put into their positions. I regularly receive emails from Gina Di Napoli, Califor nia Chapter Historian. She does an amazing job and would be an amazing source of information for other chapters. I dug into the three white legal boxes containing items of NA historical value. There were lots of photos, programs and flyers. Some of the items were mailed to the NA by either the member or, upon their passing, their family. Please consider sending NA related items of historical significance to the National Office. It would be wonderful to build a central collection of our history in the place where most of our NA journeys began – Quantico. Here are a couple of tidbits I ran across while digging in those three boxes… First, Director Hoover attended every graduation up until the 39th Session, which occurred on October 1, 1948. He was ill for both the graduation and group picture. His picture was superimposed on the prints “to let everyone know he was with them in spirit.” Second, on July 25, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote Director Hoover a letter of congratulations. In part it read, “I extend to you my personal message of greetings on this day which marks the occasion of the graduation of the nineteenth class of the FBI National Police Academy. During my administration I have witnessed the establishment by you of the National Police Academy as an integral part of the Federal Bureau of Investiga tion. Under your direction and inspiration this Academy has made an important contribution to the police of the Nation.” President Roosevelt also congratulated Director Hoover on the 25th Anni versary of his official services with the U.S. Department of Justice, which was on July 26, 1942. We have a wonderfully rich history and I intend to share the stories of graduates, both past and present. One young man, Steve Cox, NA Session 143, of the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter, is a shining example of service above self to this great Association. His contributions are many, having served as the secretary/treasurer of the New Mexico Chapter from 1999 until he returned to Kansas in 2013. Soon after his return he assumed the role of secretary/

treasurer for the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter. His dedication to the FBINAA doesn’t stop there. He joined the FBINAA Charitable Foundation Board in 2012, and served from 2017 until recently as the vice chair. During that time he chaired the selection com mittee for the Science and Innovation Award, led the selection process for new directors and co-chaired the wine program effort. He continues to serve the Foundation as a director-at-large. I sat down with Steve and his lovely bride of 52 years, Helen, for an interview while we attended the Spring Retrainer of the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter in Manhattan, Kan. He told me he has but two reasons to get out of bed each morning – to spend time with Helen and to accomplish his many tasks associated with his state and national FBINAA obligations. Fortunately, Steve has no plans to retire! We talked about national conferences…I can’t recall one that he and Helen didn’t attend! He said his favorite was in Quebec City. Like many other attendees Steve and Helen tacked on some vaca tion travel both before and after the conference. He also said he played a part in getting the 2004 conference to Kansas City. Several years earlier he was attending a conference in St. Paul, Minn. The chapter folks were invited to a “BBQ” in the park across the street from their hotel. When they arrived they discovered that ”BBQ” in Minnesota consisted of hamburgers and hotdogs! The group agreed NA members from around the world needed to sample real BBQ in Kansas City! Kansas City won the 2004 conference and held a great event but Steve missed out on all the hard work leading up to the event…he and Helen moved to Albuquerque, N.M., in 1998... Steve said one of his proudest achievements was selecting past Chapter and National President, Sid Mitchell, NA Session 167, for attendance at the FBI National Academy. He encouraged him to remain active, run for the Chapter board and ultimately run for the National board. Steve shared with me one qualification few other NA mem bers possess – he is a licensed hot air balloon pilot! Immediate Past President Scott Rhoad, NA Session 217, recog nized Steve during last year’s National Training Conference in Kansas City by awarding him the Les Davis Award. Steve is a shining example of dedicated service and I’m proud to call him my friend.

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