Yesterday, we held the memorial service for my dad, who passed away at 87. Today, of course, is Father's Day. To honor his memory, I've compiled some anecdotes from his most remarkable life.
One time Dad was golfing, hit a long drive. Yelled Fore but ball hit a huge black man, who was furious. It was heavyweight champ Joe Lewis.
When Dad was in his sixties, he was rescued by a Coast Guard chopper when his buddy's sailboat got caught in a hurricane off Baja.
Some of Dad's narcotics cases were the basis of episodes of Dragnet.
WWII, Dad joined OSS (now CIA), trained to infiltrate Japan in advance of DDayish invasion: swim from sub to shore, sabotage, cache supplies
Dad was 1st on scene at '61 Bel Air fire. 1st thing sees: rich woman hustling down hill in a robe, carrying a giant oil painting of herself.
Dad was Shirley Temple's bodyguard.
When elected Governor, Ronald Reagan asked my dad to quit LAPD, join CHP, move to Sacramento, work his security detail. Dad said no.
One day the neighbor kids came yelling for help. Their dad had a heart attack, his heart had stopped. My dad performed CPR, saved his life
In the 1950s, John Wayne, Fred MacMurray & Bo Roos owned a 76 foot yacht, the Norwester. Dad was their captain.
Dad & Ted were beset by banditos in Centro de Nowhere, Mexico. Stole dad's truck, shot Ted in the gut, miles from help. Dad was in his 70s.
In 1968, a 727 crashed in Santa Monica Bay, killing all 28 aboard. Dad had to go out in a boat and recover body parts.
Dad was once jailed in Mexico, charged with murder. (He didn't do it.)
Dad was supposed to escort Kennedy brothers from LAX to their hotel. They refused, had their own limo on tarmac. In the limo? Whores.
50s: Dad&pals rented bulldozers, drove 100s miles dirt roads cross Sonora desert, built breakwater at Bahia de los Angeles: Kept boat there.
When Gov Ron Reagan signed into law the new & improved death penalty, he had my dad come stand on the stage behind him for the ceremony.
Dad was lead detective on George "Superman" Reeves case. In film Hollywoodland, "Doug Johnson" is based on him. Dad still sure it's suicide.
Dad dated Jayne Mansfield.
Dad was 40 years old, divorced, met 23 year old stewardess at apartment complex pool in 1962. That would be my mom.
Dad survived a small plane crash in the Sonora desert. Was in the back seat -- back seat no longer existed after the crash.
Dad busted up vicious Venice motorcycle gang, sending 6 leaders to prison for murder and gang rape. So they took out a contract on his life.
Dad had massive MI in 2001. Turns out he'd been having heart attacks off and on for twenty years, just didn't mention it to anybody.
Dad was shipwrecked on a desert island in the Sea of Cortez for five days. Fortunately, his buddies knew he was overdue, sent a plane out to search for him.
Dad was chasing a criminal, who was escaping over a fence. Dad shot the guy in the ass. That was okay once upon a time.
Dad and his partner tracked a notorious fur thief to a local motel. Busted in, found him asleep on a mink stole. Partner shot him in the nuts.
Dad was chasing a criminal, who turned and fired six shots from his revolver from 10, 15 feet away. All shots missed. Guy had sworn he'd Never Be Taken Alive.
Happy Father's Day, Dad. We miss you.