Colonel Anson B. Cook was aided in his superintendency by a rich background of experience in every facet of Ohio State Highway Patrol operations.

A Columbus native, Colonel Cook graduated from North High School, and later attended Wittenburg College where in 1932 he was awarded a varsity letter in Football.

Colonel Cook joined the Highway Patrol as a member of the Fourth Academy Class and was commissioned in September 1935. While working his way through the ranks, Colonel Cook served at 10 different posts in all four corners of the state and at all levels of supervision -- from patrolman to captain.

He also served many years at general headquarters working on the administrative side of division operations. When he was named superintendent on January 1, 1964, Colonel Cook was well prepared for the challenge.

Upon taking office one of his top priorities was to raise officers' salaries. He abolished the rank of patrolman II and promoted 69 of these officers to the rank of corporal during his first month as superintendent. The following month he promoted 54 patrolmen to corporal. All of these officers received pay increases.

Colonel Cook formally established the division's "Resident Patrolman" program in 1964 which provided permanent stationing of officers in counties not equipped with a patrol post. This program insured that no county in Ohio was without the presence of an officer of the Highway Patrol.

Division history was made during Colonel Cook's office as groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Highway Patrol Academy took place on September 19, 1964. Approximately one year later the training facility was dedicated by James A. Rhodes, Ohio's governor at the time.

After over 30 years of service to the division he retired from the office of superintendent in October 1965 but chose to remain in the law enforcement field. He was asked to head the newly formed Ohio Peace Officers Training Council, a position he accepted and held until his retirement in 1978.

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