Urie C. Felty was a native of Kenton, and later Forest in Hardin County. An auto mechanic all his life, he applied for Ohio's new Highway Patrol in 1933 after the auto repair garage he managed was destroyed by fire.

Director Felty graduated with the Camp Perry Class and was one of the original 60 patrolmen. Like his classmate, Col. George Mingle, Felty's first year in the Highway Patrol was a hectic series of assignments and reassignments. In 1934, he received no less than six transfers and three promotions (patrolman-in-charge, sergeant, and lieutenant), after which time he "settled" in Massillon as district commander. After about three years he was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to Columbus as a member of Col. Black's staff.

During his three years as highway safety director, Dir. Felty was responsible for a general stiffening of drivers exams, and set stricter standards for obtaining and holding a drivers license (such as vision standards.) For patrolmen, he pushed hard for a 40-hour work week which, although virtually mythical in practice, helped draw a larger number of recruits.

After leaving the Dept. of Highway Safety, Dir. Felty accepted a position with the U. S. Government on the "Survival Project" designating escape routes from cities in the event of enemy attack. He later did accident studies for a transport firm before retiring.

Director Felty passed away January 27, 1973, at the age of 74.

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