Our Association came into existence through the combined efforts of several individuals.  Robert Smith placed an advertisement in the American Legion Magazine seeking contact with former members of the Highway Patrol.  Several Individuals responded and in 1997 Bob and a few others met for the first reunion in Atlantic City, NJ.

In 1998 membership started increasing significantly and in October of that year the second reunion was held in Branson, MO.  During a meeting at this reunion it was decided to formalize the association.  Edward F. “Smitty” Smith was nominated to serve as the administrator (executive officer) of the association.  Ed also was elected as our original president and was re-elected to this position for several consecutive terms thereafter.   He concurrently handled the additional tasks of Editor of the White Mice (our newsletter), Treasurer - Secretary, and Historian.  This has involved gathering and collecting material, chasing down snippets of information and making contact with various former members, assembling and maintaining a roster of our members, publishing a newsletter, and arranging for many of the organizational meetings.

After six years of handling all of these duties, Ed requested that someone else step forward and accept some of the responsibilities and duties of leadership.  Accordingly, at the 2002 reunion we began electing officers (president and vice president) to serve for two year terms.  The membership made it very clear that they wished for Ed to continue his duties as Editor, Historian, and Treasurer.  The members overwhelming decided to honor Ed by naming him President Emeritus at this meeting.  Ed continues to be the glue that bound our association together as he continued to handle the many daily activities as the Administrator of the Association for an additional four years.

Ed enjoyed a short hiatus from the Fall of 2007 until early Summer 2008 when he resumed his role of Editor, Administrator, Historian, and Treasurer.  Send your dues renewals to him - AND - he always needs more stories for The White Mice.

We are a small association (unfortunately growing smaller with each passing year) and only a few individuals have served in leadership roles and involved themselves in some of the “behind-the-scene” tasks.  Your officers can only do so much.  We do need the help, cooperation, and assistance of everyone to make our association viable.  Please keep us informed of your current e-mail address, [send to webmaster] or any residence address change.  Join us at our reunions and support us with your association dues.

During the annual business meeting at the 2011 Reunion, our newly reelected incumbent President announced that he had agreed to a request from Ed to be available to assist with editing tasks of our Association Newsletter,  The White Mice, when requested or needed.   Please continue to keep stories, information, and items coming to Smitty so that he will have an adequate supply of material on hand for inclusion in the newsletter.