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Hazelwood Police Volunteer Honored For Her Time, Service with the Department
Shirley Howard
A farewell reception was held recently in honor of a Hazelwood police volunteer, Shirley “Trooper” Howard, who’s been donating her time over the past 14 years for the Hazelwood Police Department. Most of the 25 members of the Hazelwood Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) unit gathered to say their good-byes and wish her well as she announced her plans to move to Jonesboro, Ark.
Howard revealed that one of her greatest joys was being a Hazelwood police volunteer. “When I finally got behind the wheel of my car after my last day of school, I started worrying about what I was going to do with all my time during retirement. I had been used to doing the same routine everyday for the past 26 years. Then I heard about the Hazelwood Citizens Police Academy and went through the program. I just enjoyed everything I did as a police volunteer, and I hope that I helped in some way.”
In addition to being a police volunteer, Howard is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. She toured across the country, including trips to Alaska and Hawaii, for four years with the All American Red Heads World Champions.
Howard also got to play on the Islands of Sitka, Cordoba and Ketchikan. Her favorite basketball shot was the free-throw. She learned a lot from Coach Moore of Caraway, Ark., who recently passed away about a year and a half ago. In 2001, Howard and the rest of her teammates were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
One of her exciting experiences was appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show with her team. She got to meet Hollywood guest star Red Buttons and saw a trio called the DeCapro Sisters perform several songs. The team stayed at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City. At the time, the team owner was trying to work up a deal with Abe Saperstein for the Red Heads to tour with the Harlem Globetrotters in Europe. But they couldn’t agree on the finances so the opportunity fell through.
Howard was a school teacher for 31 years, including 26 years at Hazelwood Central High School. In addition to physical education, she taught biology and English. After graduating from Arkansas State with a Bachelor’s degree, she moved here to begin her teaching and coaching career. During the summers, she attended Ole Miss to earn her Masters degree.
