Karl Mehnert:
CLASS OF 1957
Urbana High SchoolClass of 1957
Urbana, IL
University of Illinois - Police Training Institute Class of 1990
Urbana, IL
Parkland CollegeClass of 1975
Champaign, IL
Thornburn Junior High SchoolClass of 1953
Urbana, IL
Webber Elementary SchoolClass of 1951
Urbana, IL
Karl's Story
Life
Carole Martin and I started 1st grade at Webber School and all the wasy to graduation. I was very bashful and Carole told when she passed me in the has of UHS, I'd duck my head and shyly say Hi. After graduation, I went into the army and Carole married. each of us had 2 marriages, Carole's 2nd husband died of prostrate cancer shortly after our 30th reunion. I had retired from the Urbana Police Dept the year prior. a year later we started dating and were finally married on New Year's eve 1991. I already was working in Olney, Il. as a Child Abuse Investigator. We bought a beautiful older home in Olney, until Carole died of cancer in 1995.
School
I started 1st grade at Webber School in East Urbana, in the last class to graduate from Thorburn Jr. High. I was very shy in Jr and Sr High, girls used to tease me. I had one date my Jr year of high school and she asked me to the vice-versa dance. I also had one date my Sr year. Graduated in 1957.
College
The Urbana Police started an education incentive program. 1970 I started at Parkland College in Champaign on the G.I. bill and the Law Enforcement Education Program. It took 5 years to complete the 2 year program. Then on to Eastern Ill. Univ. program at Chanute AFB. Graduated with Bachelors degree.
After retirement from UPD, I taught at the Police Training Institute at the U of IL. After 2 years I was Assigned as Basic Course Coordinator. Was laid off in the 1990 State budget cutbacks.
I also taught for one semester at Olney Central College, after moving to Olney.
Workplace
After the Army, I worked as an automotiv...Expand for more
e mechanic at several places in Urbana-Champaign. I was working for Sullivan Chrevolet as a Corvair mechanic, when the Chief of Police, Frank Stapp sent the Captain to ask me if I wanted to be a Policeman. Chief Stapp had been hired by my Great Uncle, who was Chief in 1936. I applied, came in first on the entrance exam and was hired 2 months later. There was no training at that time, you got a uniform, gun, City Ordinance book, an Illinois Vehicle Code and went out to fight crime. It was 8 years before I had the opportunity to take the Sergeants exam and again was first on the exam, promoted to Sergeant. I was assigned as the first fulltime Training Officer. In 3 years I was promoted to Lieutenant and served as Day Shift Commander Untill 1985, I was placed on Duty related disability after suffering 2 knee injuries.
Military
I enlisted in 1958 with 2 other guys on the Buddy system, but they didn't show up. Basic (B-3-3) & 2nd 8 weeks (L-3-4) at Fort Leonard Wood (Fort Lost in the Woods) Missouri. Flew to Germany, stationed at Strassburg Kaserne, Idar-Oberstein in B Battery, 5th Msl Bn Nike Ajax. In 1960 B Battery moved to Baumholder, I was SP/4 & assigned acting Motor Sgt. In 1961 I came back from Germany on the USNS Buckner(the Bouncing Buckner). Then stationed at Fort Bliss(Blister), Tx. with 2nd Guided Msl Grp. Again as Acting Motor Sgt. and later assigned to Group S-4 Office as Wheel and Track Vehicle Inspector. Got married at the Base Lutheran Chapel and Mack Dalton was my Best Man. Haven't seen or heard from Mack since. Mack was Mormon and from Wyoming or Montana.
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