ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q2-2024

John Simmons THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT

FBINAA.ORG | Q2 2024

T he National Academy is rich with examples of professional support, post-retirement interaction and lifelong relation ships. I previously wrote an article about the annual spring gather ing of NA Session 226 hunters in Texas. Well, I just returned from the 17th annual gathering and am pleased to report numerous hogs were taken, many stories of past accomplishments were told and retold (some very slightly exaggerated, I have no doubt…) and most attendees were aging gracefully. My special thanks to Duke Atkins , NA Session 226 and proud Texas Chapter past presi dent, for hosting this annual event! The article mentioned above also solicited other examples of long-standing annual events. Greg Guiton — fellow NA Session 215 graduate, former FBINAA National Staff member and active member of the Maryland-Delaware Chapter — began nearly 10 years ago inviting me to his chapter’s annual Navy football tailgate event in Annapolis, Md. (At that time, I was the director of law enforcement and military sales for CZ-USA and received invita tions to a large number of chapter events throughout the United States.) After reading about the annual NA Session 226 hog hunt in Texas, Greg suggested I get in contact with Bob Emory , NA Session 86, who established and had hosted the annual Navy Football Tail gate since 1976. I recently had the opportunity to visit with Bob and learn more about his amazing story. But first a little bit about Bob. He joined the Annapolis Police Department in 1962 and was only 30 years old and a Corporal when he reported to the NA Session 86 in the fall of 1970. (Note: I am not aware of any other 30-year-old graduates or, for that matter, any graduates under the rank of sergeant. How about you?) Upon graduation, Bob remained very active in his chapter, which hosted a number of events throughout the year. He wanted to make his own contribution to the chapter by organizing another event in the Annapolis area…so, in 1976, he hosted the very first tailgate event at the U.S. Naval Academy’s football stadium. Bob said it was nothing special — a small event with a single folding table, 10-15 attendees and the usual array of tailgate consumables like beer, bloody marys, hot dogs and hamburgers. Bob said it grew a little bit each year. And grow it did! One year they had 186 people in attendance. Bob said FBI Director Louis Freeh even dropped by one year and enjoyed some refreshments with the at tendees. Last year’s event was also attended by 12 of their chapter members who were in the NA Session 288 at Quantico. Bob rose to the position of Chapter president in 1982 and then retired from the Annapolis Police Department in 2011. Even after 50 years of public service he continues to host his amazing Navy football tailgate event each September. And, two years ago, the event was officially named the Bob Emory FBINAA Tailgate Party. It is now a catered event located on prime turf near the front of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. All 1,200-plus U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen march past their venue into the stadium before the game – an amazing sight for sure! And a huge congratulations to Bob for his vision, hard work and contributions to the National Academy! (As a side note the Maryland-Delaware Chapter does an amazing job hosting events. Be sure to clear your 2025 calendar to attend the National Conference in Baltimore!)

I recently received an interesting request from Greg Seel , NA Session 201. According to Greg, a generous citizen dropped sev eral old black and white photographs off at the Burlington (North Carolina) Police Department last year. They are clearly marked, “Burlington Police Department – 1913.” Unfortunately, the photo was not from the Burlington Police Department! Greg reached out to the Burlington (Vermont) Police Department and, you guessed it…it wasn’t from there either. So Greg asked that I reach out to a larger audience. There are some names written on the back of one photo – Ranson or Ransom, McElroy, Bob Stump and Hanson. The uniformed officers are wearing double-breasted coats and a mix of six-pointed and shield-type badges. One photo depicts five uniformed officers, three gentlemen in suits and one woman in a white dress. Large brick buildings are prominent in the back grounds. These great photos deserve to hang in a place of honor in the correct Burlington Police Department! Any suggestions? Email me at jsimmons@fbinaa.org and I’ll send you a file contain ing the print images for a closer inspection. Thanks in advance for helping Greg and I put this historical quest to rest. Lastly, I spent two terms as the secretary/treasurer of the Kansas/Western Missouri Chapter and now help out on the 2024 National Conference Committee. Please consider this a shameless (but prideful!) plug for attending what will truly be a wonderful National Conference in Kansas City, Missouri! The last National Conference in Kansas City was in 2004 and occurred about six months after I graduated from the NA Session 215. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate all that our National Conferences have to offer. If you have suggestions for historical articles please make a point of visiting me during the conference. I look forward to seeing you in Kansas City!

John Simmons, FBINAA Historian

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