Mr. Curry.

Since May 1, 1936.

Mr. Hubert.

And how did you begin ?

Mr. Curry.

I began, I believe, as a traffic police officer--well, I worked in a squad car a few days as a patrolman, and then worked as a traffic officer for several months.

Mr. Hubert.

How old were you when you began?

Mr. Curry.

Twenty-three I lacked a few months being twenty-three

Mr. Hubert.

What education have you, Chief?

Mr. Curry.

I graduated from the Dallas high schools--Dallas Technical High School. I did not go to college. I studied a short time--optometry a short time after that, after graduating from high school.

Mr. Hubert.

What employment did you have between leaving high school and joining the police force?

Mr. Curry.

I worked a short time for Vitalic Battery Co., as I recall, and at the time I entered the police field, I owned a small cleaning and pressing shop out in East Dallas, which I owned and operated.

Mr. Hubert.

Are you married ?

Mr. Curry.

Yes; I am.

Mr. Hubert.

You have a family?

Mr. Curry.

Yes.

Mr. Hubert.

Would you state who they are, how many children?

Mr. Curry.

I have three step-children--no, it's two step-children, one son of my own and one daughter of my own.

Mr. Hubert.

I take it that you're practically a lifetime resident of Dallas?

Mr. Curry.

Yes; I moved here when I was less than a year old.

Mr. Hubert.

It appears to me from what you have said that you began at the bottom of the ranks in the police department?

Mr. Curry.

That's right.

Mr. Hubert.

And would it be fair to say that you worked your way through, as it were?

Mr. Curry.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Hubert.

Up the line?

Mr. Curry.

Yes, sir; I worked in practically every assignment the police department has, and through civil service examinations was able to gain promotions to a detective, sergeant, lieutenant of police, captain of police, inspector
of police, and inspector of police is the highest civil service rank obtainable.

Mr. Hubert.

When did you attain that rank, Mr. Curry, roughly?

Mr. Curry.

I believe it was about 1951, along about that as inspector--I don't recall exactly.

Mr. Hubert.

Does the obtaining of that rank in the civil service system involve special studies?

Mr. Curry.

Well, you must make some special studies in order to compete with the other men who are trying to reach promotion through examination. During these years I won a fellowship to Northwestern University Traffic Institute and attended that school in 1945-46. I graduated from there. In 1951 I was sent to the FBI National Academy in Washington, D.C., and I graduated from that school.

Mr. Hubert.

I wish you would tell us other schools or training sessions you have attended.

Mr. Curry.

Well, I've been to several schools conducted in the Dallas area. I have been to 2 weeks training school by the department of public safety in Austin. I have been to several schools conducted by Southern Methodist University and the FBI here in the Dallas area through the years. I have also taken correspondence training courses from the City Managers' Association, and I believe that's about the extent of my training.

Mr. Hubert.

Were you in service during the war, sir ?

Mr. Curry.

I was in what was called the CPA, Civilian Pilot Training. It was a program that was open to people who were over combat age in the Air Force. We did not receive any pay when we first went in. We volunteered our services and we were taught to fly. We attended ground training school; I was assigned to Gainesville Junior College and flew out of Gainesville, out of the airfield there. I was then sent to TCU in Fort Worth where I continued