NovDec Associate Magazine.2018.

THE HISTORIAN'S SPOTLIGHT

Pat Davis

Elizabeth (Betsy) McCreery

T o date as your National Historian I have penned fourteen “Spotlight” Articles for The Associate Magazine, all of them about National Academy graduates. However, I am stepping out of the box to write about who I believe to be one of the most over looked individuals of our National Academy experience: The Na- tional Academy Training Tech in the local office. I attended Session 152 from January 10 to March 25, 1988, and at age 32 was one of the youngest in my Session. I was nominated by then SSRA of the Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Field Office, Sid Pruitt . The National Academy Training Coordinator at the time was Ed Gerrity , and the Tech was Patricia (PJ) Jones . PJ was the Tech prior to my going to the Academy and remained in that posi- tion until her retirement in 2007, when our current Tech, Elizabeth (Betsy) McCreery came to work for the Bureau in Philadelphia. I have had the pleasure of working with Betsy for many years, and it is my privilege to provide you with a glimpse of this remark- able lady's accomplishments. Betsy's family originally resided in

compassed all of Northeast Philadelphia, including and past the Northeast Airport. Jeremiah was a WWII veteran stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. The McCreerys have a long history as civil servants, Betsy’s grandfather Jeremiah, was a Battalion Chief in the Philadelphia Fire Department and her Uncle Joseph McCreery was Deputy Commissioner in the Philadelphia Fire De- partment. Dolores McCreery was a stay-at-home Mom until all of the children were in High School, at which point she worked as an Assistant Manager at Marianne Shops at Neshaminy Mall, where all of the teenage girls shopped at the time. Betsy developed a strong work ethic, and at age nine after her father converted a Baby Stroller into a “Vending Cart," she sold soft pretzels from the time she was nine, until she was seventeen. Every Saturday during the school year, and six days a week during the summer, she would purchase 250 soft pretzels for 2.5 cents each and sell them for 5 cents each, selling out her inventory every day. Betsy became so well recognized that she was known around the neighborhood as “Besty Pretzels,” and there are still some folks who will occasionally refer to her using this moniker. Graduating from pretzel sales, Betsy started her career as a Paralegal with ARAMARK, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that she was not cut out to sit behind a desk all day. In 1976 the Philadel- phia Police Department opened their first class that included wom- en. Betsy applied and states that, “although the training was tough, the hardest part was learning to button my shirt on the wrong side.” And so began Betsy's long career with law enforcement, setting her on a track that would eventually lead to the Bureau. In short order Betsy gained the reputation as an outstanding officer, referred to by her peers as someone who “always had their backs.” This reputation was proven all too true when a shootout occurred on Broad Street while Betsy was working. Two FBI Agents had been shot on the street and Betsy was the first officer to re- spond to the scene. On arrival, she pulled both wounded Agents from the street into her patrol car, and transported them to Temple University Hospital, where they were both treated and recovered from serious and near fatal wounds. Betsy was later honored by the FBI for her heroic, life-saving efforts, and when she retired from the Police Department years later, FBI Agent Richard Macko , one of the wounded agents, provided a moving tribute regarding her actions. In 1998 Betsy was honored as “Officer of the Year,” and she re- ceived the award in a ceremony hosted at the District where her fa-

the Kensington section of Philadelphia prior to mov- ing to “Northeast Philly.” Born at Temple hospital in Philadelphia on August 28, 1954 as the second child of Dolores and Jeremiah Mc- Creery , her childhood was filled with mostly day trip vacations to Wildwood and Cedar Lake in New Jersey. In the winter, Betsy's father would take her and her siblings out of school for day trips to Atlantic City, making sure to keep peace

Elizabeth (Betsy) McCreery

with the school’s Nuns by bringing them a box of salt water taffy to make up for the occasional absences. I am told by Betsy’s sister Dolores that Betsy inherited her father’s charming personality. For those of us who experienced growing up in Philly, a staple seasonal tradition was attending the Thanksgiving Day Parade, known back in the day as, “Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade." We would argue it held the title of best Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Country, although our New York friends will claim the Macy’s Parade holds that high honor. Betsy and most of her family would head off to enjoy the parade while her mother stayed at home to cook the Thanksgiving meal, always insisting later that she saw her family on TV. Historic trips to the Betsy Ross House, Independence Hall, and Valley Forge were frequent day trips that had an educa- tional component in Betsy's childhood. In fact, the family has a rel- ative Samuel McCreery, whose name is posted as a Revolutionary War soldier who fought and sacrificed his life at Valley Forge. Betsy’s father Jeremiah V. McCreery, Jr. was a Philadelphia Policeman assigned to the 2nd District; which, at the time en-

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