April 15, 1999

Paul Harvey is presented

Indiana Troopers Association Lifetime Membership

by Bill McCallister

Paul promoted the ITA on many occasions

Here are two such commentaries

Christmas Program we call Shop with a Cop

Paul Harvey discusses his meeting with Bill McCallister

Thursday, April 15, 1999 is a day that some 15,000 people will probably remember. It was the day that they attended the Peter Lowe Seminar at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. A small group of Indiana Troopers Association members were among the attendees.

Although the agenda included several well known Americans, including Lou Holtz, Zig Ziglar and General Colin Powell, probably the best known was "The Real American" -Paul Harvey.

This day, April 15, 1999 was a special day for the Indiana Troopers Association as well. On this day, Senior Advisor Bill McCallister presented Paul Harvey with a Lifetime Membership to our association.

Many of you will remember Bill McCallister's "Why I Became A Trooper" story printed in our All Points Bulletin newsletter in January, 1998 (copies available upon request). Bill's story follows this one.

In that story, Bill McCallister shared how a Paul Harvey broadcast about a little boy, about the same age as Bill's son at that time (and the son of a law enforcement officer) was brutally murdered on August 27, 1966 in Chicago. It was that broadcast that had influenced his decision to become an Indiana State Police officer and do whatever he could to make a positive impact on our society. Bill McCallister went on to serve the Indiana State Police for 26 years, retiring in1994.

All these years, Bill has carried in his wallet, a small piece of paper with the date of Paul Harvey's 8/27/66 broadcast scribbled on it. According to Bill, on days when he was down and thought that life wasn't treating him fairly, he'd take out that piece of paper and remember that little 3 year old boy in Chicago, who never had a chance to make a difference in this world.

On 4/15/99, Paul Harvey added a personal note to that tattered piece of paper and signed his name. A dream come true for a retired Indiana State Police officer who truly "served with pride".

tattered 3x5 card from 8/27/66

Today, Bill continues to serve the residents of our great state, not only as Senior Advisor to the ITA, but as a private investigator. One of his unattained goals in life was to personally meet Paul Harvey and thank him for the influence he has had on his life. In Columbus, Ohio at approximately 3pm, that goal was finally realized with a visit, a handshake and a sincere hug between two real Americans.

As Mr. Harvey shared on his worldwide broadcast the day after their meeting, he spoke to "15,000 -plus 1" and he would "digest that information" and share it on Monday. And share it he did. On Monday, April 19lh and again on Saturday, April 24lh, Paul Harvey gave a very personal account of the meeting between him and Bill McCallister. After losing his own policeman father at an early age, Paul Harvey seemed deeply touched by Bill McCallister's story and our Lifetime Membership and Plaque.

Paul Harvey has touched the lives of millions of people over his many years of broadcasting "the rest of the story" around the world and it was truly a pleasure to compliment him with a Lifetime Membership along 'with making a dream come true for our own "real American", Bill McCallister.

If any of you would like a copy of the Bill McCallister story or a copy of the Paul Harvey broadcast, give a call to the ITA Administrative office and we'll provide a complimentary copy to you.

Why I became an Indiana State Trooper

Bill McCallister

Just prior to the December 20th Shop with a Cop Program Paul Harvey honored the Indiana Troopers Association by telling the rest of the world about our program.  Mr. Harvey has certainly touched many lives during his broadcasting career.   The following story comes from on our own.

On august 27, 1966 I was a struggling 24 year old apprentice toolmaker at Delco Remy in Anderson, Indiana.  I had a 2 1/2 year old son and another son on the way (December 1966).  By the time I was 21 I had purchased five acres of woods and built a nice three bedroom house with two fireplaces, deck, patio, full basement etc.  When I was about 23 I bought an additional 12 1/2 acres of woods across the road from the house.

I was also delivering the good old U.S. mail on a rural route on Saturdays for extra money.  As always money was tight but we didn’t' do without much.  I was making about $3.00 per hour at Delco with additional benefits.  In my opinion, at the time, I thought I had it made.

On that August 27, 1966 (Saturday) I was delivering mail as usual.  Noon time came and I was listening to a real America, "Paul Harvey" broadcasting the news.  He started telling about a little 3 year old boy who had been found in a Chicago lagoon, beaten, with his hands tied behind him, and drowned.  I couldn't believe what I had just heard.  I had a little boy who was almost three that I thought the world of.  How could anyone do that to a little child?

I made up my mind right then that I was going to join the Indiana State Police.  The following Monday I went down to the Pendleton Post and got an application.  And as they say the rest is history.  I decided that I probably could not save the world, but I felt, as I still do, that I could straighten out a lot of it.  I feel that I did (and in my own way still do).  I feel that I owe any success which I may have had in the department to Paul Harvey.  I would love to meet him someday and if you know anyone who could help that happen, it would be great.  He is not the most accessible guy in the world (so I am told). 

I gave up a good job at Delco to join the Indiana State Police, but I never looked back.  I learned just before I retired that the little boy in Chicago was named John Jenson.  I don't know if the case was ever solved.  The strange thing was that his Dad was a policeman.  I locked up a lot of bad guys in my 26 years, all because of Paul Harvey and the death of a little boy named John Jenson.  And now you know the rest of my story.

The day I heard the broadcast I went home and told my wife I was going to be a policeman.  Everyone thought I was crazy.  No one quits Delco Remy, especially a toolmaker. I did!  That day I took a 3x5 card and wrote 8/27/66 on it in red felt tip pen.  I folded it double and put it in my billfold.  Later I put it in my Indiana State Police ID (that I now use as my billfold).  Anytime over the years when I would get down in the dumps, I would get out that old dog eared 3x5 card and take a long look at it.  It reminded me what this life is all about, why I am here, and why we do what we do.

Not a bad story huh?  And it is all true.  It's been a heck of a ride since 8/27/66 and believe me money couldn't buy it.  And so it goes.  Bill

Note:  Detective Sergeant Bill McCallister retired from the Indiana State Police on 1/5/94 following 26 years of service.  During his tenure with the department he served at the Pendleton Post as an undercover agent in Organized Crime, CIC, Special Investigations and Area V Investigations. 

In private life Bill has grown children, lives in the country near Markleville, and is a private Investigator.  We are proud to have Bill as a lifetime member of the Indiana Troopers Association