Ed Dobler, Class of '42

ALL ABOUT ED

Ed Dobler, who was an altar boy and lived at 113-05 207th Street, graduated from St. Pascal's in June, 1942. He remembers the nuns and priests, and reports that they added classes each year while he was there. Ed worked with the groundskeeper, George Steadman, cutting grass and trimming hedges in the summer, for which he thinks he made 50 cents a day. After graduation, he attended Woodrow Wilson high school. In 1944 Ed went into the navy and, 26 years later, after reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (boatswain), he retired to upstate NY. From there moved west. His favorite ship, the cruiser Quincy, had 8 inch guns and, rhapsodises Ed, "was a beautiful ship - cock of the walk!"

Ed now lives in Jordon, Montana, where he was sheriff for a number of years. The Freeman tax resistors achieved national notoriety while having their difficulties with the law in his neck of the woods. Ed had retired from the sheriff job by then, but witnessed the FBI and others moving in to confront the group.

He was drawn to the area out of his desire to pursue big game (brown bear, moose, elk, etc.). Ed's priceless contribution of the June 1942 graduation photo, for which he had to drive all over Montana to find a copy shop, is greatly appreciated.

The following article, submitted by Ed, was marked "Local Paper."

STEPPING DOWN FROM OFFICE

EDWARD DOBLER

Effective Monday, January 7, 1991, Sheriff Edward H. Dobler will retire as Garfield County Sheriff. Assuming the duties of Sheriff will be Charles A. Phipps, who prior to becoming Sheriff-elect served in the capacity of Deputy Sheriff since July of 1986.

Ed's employment as a Special Deputy Sheriff, serving under Sheriff Spud Cremer, commenced in April of 1985; he was appointed to Sheriff on December 16, of the same year. In November of 1986, Ed was successful in the General Election and in January of 1987 assumed the position of Garfield County's duly elected Sheriff. He has held that position since. His decision made last spring was not to seek another term, but to retire.

Mr. Dobler's first contact with Montana, namely Miles City, was in the later part of 1945, after the conclusion of World War II. Enroute to his home in New York, via bus from Seattle, Washington, where his ship was moored after the cessation of hostilities with Japan, Ed met a host of fine residents of the Treasure State. Upon arriving in Miles City, Ed exited the bus and spent a few days (wild ones he says) on his return trip to Seattle, after leave. Ed, on invitation, spent a few more days in Miles City and at that time decided he would eventually return to Montana permanently.

On August 1, 1970, Ed retired from the U. S. Navy in the grade of Chief Warrant Officer, ( Ship's Boatswain.). His last active duty station was serving in a Essex Class Attack Aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock CVA19. During his tenure in the sea service, which included World War II and the Korean and Vietnam armed conflicts, Ed received numerous awards, citations, and theatre of operational award ribbons and decorations. Travel was quite extensive throughout the world, and conservatively, Ed estimates he made port of calls in approximately sixty five countries and many of these were repeat voyages while serving in various type classes of ships. While stationed at the Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland, Ed served as Station Investigator with the Armed Forces Police and was highly instrumental in organizing and training of the Base Police under the command of the Provast Marshal who ultimately was responsible to the Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval Station, Argentia, Newfoundland.

After a successful career, while being employed by a large supermarket food chain in upstate New York, Ed decided to fulfill his desires, uproot and make the move to Montana.

This having been the results of Ed's many big game hunts throughout the North American continent, which included many hunts to the western part of the U. S., especially Montana and Idaho. Claude Saylor, of Brusett, was the motivating force behind Ed's move to Jordan. "The clinching factor was the down to earth and true American spirit of the residents, not only in Garfield County, but the entire state of Montana as well, "Ed said.

Ed's intentions are to remain a resident of Garfield County and at times indulge in his favorite sports of hunting and fishing. He is a life time member of the National Rifle Association; he also holds fraternal membership and is a dues paying member of the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Sheriff's and Peace Officers Association and is a charter member of the U.S.M.M. V of WWII.

Ed's plans for the future include part-time employment as a definite possibility.