More Letters About Ora Dean

(via my brother, Steve)

Yes, I remember your grandfather real well and I can tell you that he was a wonderful man and an excellent policeman. I believe that I went to school at St. Peters with some of his daughters.  Sometimes, I can't remember my own name (just kidding) but the name Leora [she was our Mom] seems to come to my mind. I know that he had a rather large family but I believe we topped you grandparents, we had nine daughters and one son.

Here is a story that I remember when I think of your grandfather. Ora Dean would just happen by the streetcar in Kirkwood Loop about 12:30 in the morning. My dad would just be coming home from work from the Rankin Yards of the Missouri Pacific Railroad on Compton Ave in St. Louis.  Another man named Laws, who was a telegrapher downtown and another elderly woman who worked at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel (she took care of the lines ) would all be getting off the street car about the same time every night. They normally would have to walk out Ann Ave to Ballas Road each night. Many times it would be bitter cold and all of these folks were pushing 70 years old. Ora would pick them all up and ride them home. It was against the police rules but he was just a kind and very caring man.

There was not transportation after midnight out to Osage Hills (now known as Green Briar). Ora was very well liked by his fellow officers and probably told them to look the other way and for them to give his friends a ride home if he was busy. The only other policemen I can remember who worked with him were the Lewis brothers.  

I remember my Dad talking to my mom and telling her about Ora Dean being a great boxer.  The whole family was a good example to the community. Do you have any aunts that went to St. Peters School?  I am 82 and I have 25 grandkids. I would certainly be proud of them if they were as interested in their roots as you are.  

I am no computer whiz but I wish I were. I’d spend a lot of my time traveling but I still live on the same acreage that I was raised on. I hope you receive a lot of information on your grandfather.

Sincerely 
Abigail Kreienkamp (Lawler)

P S My husband was Fritz Kreienkamp and he is now deceased. He could really have told you a lot about your grandfather. One of your Aunts used to golf a lot but I do not remember her name. (Ruthie)

Jesse C Farrar

Hello Steve Holdenried; I went to work for the City Of Kirkwood in 1952 and I knew Ora Dean. He was a great man. Your grandfather rode in a police car a lot with his partner Ralph Guyer, who now lives in Flordia.

Good Luck, I am now 81 years old. (This letter was sent July 16th 2001.)

(This is my favorite letter.)

Loren S Hewiti (What a story)

Dear Mr. Holdenried

I grew up in the town of Valley Park, Missouri and I knew Ora Dean and knew of his reputation as a fearless police officer. In Valley Park in those days, it was customary when dire emergencies arose such a bad fire or a need for police sometimes people would take it upon themselves to "Call Kirkwood".

On one such night, in one of our local taverns a man, a little bit drunk, suddenly flashed a pistol and ordered everyone against the wall. This was a situation when someone called Kirkwood. Our little town was all abuzz the next day because of what happened next.

Ora Dean showed up and he quickly sized up the situation. He simply walked across the room and jerked the pistol out of the man's hands and hit him with a right hand that sent him to the floor - cold as the old proverbial cucumber. I do not know what happened to the man or the pistol but, in just a few minutes, Ora Dean was on his way back to Kirkwood awaiting his next assignment.

We kids knew of Ora Dean's reputation as a kind and gentle man BUT DO NOT MAKE HIM MAD. I hope this story will add to others of your grandfather; he was a legend!

Sincerely,
Loren S Hewiti 
University City, Missouri 

PS:  My 80 year old hands just do not write too well anymore.

This letter was written on July 10th, 2001; I received another note from Loren in October of 2001 making sure I knew that he was a man and not a woman. He said that happened a lot in the many years of his life. Loren was a Marine and he retired as the Captain of the University City Fire Department.