Michael G. Mccann

Mr. Michael G. McCann passed away March 3, 2008, at his Farmington residence at the age of 82 years, 5 months & 20 days. Michael was born Sept. 13, 1925, at Kokomo, IND., & was the son of Ralph Frederick & Elizabeth Gentry McCann. Also preceding were: 3 Brothers: Frederick, Malcolm & Mark.

Michael was married for 43 years to Betty Jean 'Reed' McCann. Betty died in 1989. There are 2 daughters: Lynn McCann 'Mrs. Wayne' Russell, of Cary, NC & Susan Gail 'Mrs. Donald' Sobel, of Catharpin, VA. There are 3 Grandchildren: Heather McIntyre, Seth & Aaron Sobel.

In 1991, Michael married Glenda Lewis Padgett at Jacksonville, FL. They made their home in Farmington, Glenda's former residence. Glenda also preceded him in death in 1999. Donna Kay Lange Rabe of Phoenix, AZ., is a Step-Daughter.

Lola Mae Ruble & Michael were united in marriage at Farmington in 2000. There were 3 Step-Children for him in this marriage, Joy Baker, of Houston, TX; David Huber, of Beaumont, TX & Terri McCall, of Farmington.

Michael served as a Marine during WWII, with service in the Pacific Theater (1943-1946). He was commissioned in the US Army Reserve in 1955 as a Military Police Officer, with the rank of Captain. He made his career in the Criminal Justice field. He worked as a Campus Policeman at Indiana Univ. while an undergraduate student, 1946-1949. He became a Indiana State Policeman upon graduation (AB-Sociology/Criminology & a certificate in Criminal Law Administration). He subsequently served as a Special Agent of the FBI in Washington, DC, Dallas, Lubbock, Amarillo, TX & Pittsburgh, PA (1951-1954).

Michael was invited back to Indiana Univ. in 1954 as an Assistant Professor, with scholarships for graduate study. He had completed work for an MA in Public Administration (1956), & was well advanced in his doctrinal studies in 1957, when invited by the US Dept. of State to serve as an Advisor to Foreign Police Agencies, being assisted by the USA. The program was new to government, initiated by President Eisenhower & subsequently, prioritized by Presidents Kennedy & Johnson. It was directed at countering growing insurgencies within the Free World vunerable to Communist Intrusion, aka "The Cold War."

Michael, accompanied by his family, worked with the Iranian National Police, living in Tehran (1957-1963), & subsequently, with the police of Brazil, living in Rio de Janerio. He consulted, at various times during his service, with the National Police Forces of Chile; United Arab Republic (Egypt); Greece; Honduras; Panama; Saudi Arabia; Phillipines; Cambodia; Laos & Thailand. He visited the United Kingdom & Sweden for study in late 1959.

He was the Founder & Director of an International Police Academy, US Dept. of State, in Washington, DC., from 1963-1969. Over 6000 staff & command officers from 67 different countries attended the school's seminars school of law from 3-4 months duration during his service as Director. The courses were presented in French, Spanish & English languages.

Michael was assigned to the Military Command in Vietnam (1969-1973), with the protocol of Lt. General, to direct a continuing assistance program for the development/deployment of a 120,000-man National Police System in Vietnam, from the national to the village & hamlet levels.

During his service he was a guest lecturer at the School of Law at the University of Tehran in Iran at the National War College & at the National Interdepartmental Seminars in Washington, DC. He returned to Indiana Univ. in 1976 with the title of 'Research Scientist in Criminal Justice.' He served as the 'Project Director' of a Governor's work group, establishing recommendations for the renovation of the Criminal Justice System for Indiana. Michael retired from Public Service in 1981.

Michael was the recipient of several prestigious honors during his career, including the South Vietnamese "National Police Medal of Honor" in 1970 & the "Republic of South Vietnam, Medal of Honor" in 1973.

The McCann family will receive friends at their home : Thursday, March 6th, 4-6 p.m.

Graveside services with Full Military Honors : Saturday, March 22, 2008, 11:00 a.m., at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery 2097 W. Alto Rd., Kokomo, IND 46902 (765) 453.2320, with Rev. Bob McCann officiating.

Memorials may be directed to Farmington Kiwanis Club "Program for Kids" c/o Taylor Funeral Service, Inc. - PO Box 12 - Farmington, MO. 63640-0012 &/or HospiceCare, Inc. - PO Box 1000 - Park Hills, MO. 63601-1000