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Published on Tuesday, August 3, 2004
in the Pensacola News Journal
Florida's oldest retired state trooper will be buried today in a ceremony in Holley.
William Thomas "Bill" Stephens, 99, of Pace died July 28. He would have turned 100 in October.
Mr. Stephens, who served the Highway Patrol from 1940 until he retired as a lieutenant in 1960, was a former district commander for the area.
He joined the Highway Patrol in Tallahassee as a member of the second recruit class after the department formed in 1939. He started his public service with the Florida Forest Service in 1925.
At a special ceremony last year, the Florida Highway Patrol gave Mr. Stephens an honorary promotion to captain, Capt. David Karasek said.
"We promised him a promotion to major if he reached 100," Karasek said. "He was a pioneer -- one of the reasons we are standing here today."
The funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Billory Baptist Church in Holley, with burial to follow at Harper Cemetery.