"When, as a child, people asked me, 'what do you want to be when you grow up little girl.' I always responded the same way… 'I am going to be a detective!' Back in the 1950s, no one took me seriously, but what people thought back then didn't deter me - and I am still undaunted by others' opinions.
    "True, it was Nancy Drew who gave me my first introduction to 'detective work,' but Sherlock Holmes became my main source of inspiration. As I grew older, and was allowed to stay up late, I enjoyed watching the Basil Rathbone movies on TV's 'Late Show' and I was lucky enough to catch many of the same movies at the local theater where, fortunately, my grandmother worked as a cashier. Very soon, I began to appreciate the art of 'deduction' and, of even more importance, the art of observing details in my surroundings and …doing something about righting wrongs.
     "During the 1960's and 1970's it was indeed difficult for a woman to get into law enforcement, but I stumbled upon a wonderful opportunity. The U.S. Air Force announced they were adding on a separate Division of Security. This fit into my dream because this 'separate division' involved Law Enforcement! I was 26 years old at the time and, immediately after my basic and formal law enforcement training, I became the first female law enforcement instructor - having a Black Belt in Martial Arts didn't do any harm in that role! Though being an instructor was wonderful, I wanted to be "out in the field" and volunteered to be put on regular patrol during my off-duty hours. I later went on to become the first female to be put on the San Antonio Town Patrol. This opportunity also allowed me to become a member of the San Antonio Rape Council and to work with the Air Force's network of law enforcement as well.
     "Unfortunately, I was retired early due to a disability and was crushed because I was not going to be able to be the detective that little girl dreamed of back in the 1950s. I did, however, go on to get my private investigators license and became a national service officer for veterans' organizations for the next 26 1/2 years.
     "As a service officer I needed both medical and legal knowledge but I wondered how my real love of investigating might play a roll in this new job. In time, a bit to my own surprise, I found out that investigating veteran's cases was like searching for clues - clues to information which would enable me to present convincing cases to the Veterans Administration on the behalf of my clients. I recognized that I was, indeed, a sort of detective. Over the years I was most gratified that my "detective work" would bring relief, assistance, services and medical care to thousands of veterans and their families. Whenever the going got difficult by the inconclusive evidence I would be initially given, I learned to put my cognitive powers to the work in order to ferret out important details. I think that there is no doubt that my love of Sherlock Holmes, my awareness of his methods and his 'eye' for those little details ('The smallest point may be the most essential' REDC) and using them to the best of my ability assisted me to great advantage throughout my career.
     "Oddly enough I went on to marry, at the age of 51, a most wonderful Sherlockian. Chuck was a manager of security and communication for Walt Disney World in Florida and he, also being a great fan of the deductive powers of Mr. Holmes, was guided to close many cases successfully. So, he too has been affected by the most esteemed Sherlock Holmes over his lifetime and together we continue our personal interest in all things Sherlockian. We have not been able to "study" Mr. Holmes and his cases perhaps as much as we would like, but one of the great virtues of retirement is the freedom to pursue those interests we have put 'on the back burner' for so many years - we are now making up for lost time! We don't have any Sherlockian societies where we live; the closest one is about 35 miles away and, much to our regret, they have not responded to my inquiries for membership - but that will not deter us! Meanwhile, we are sincerely hoping that next year we will be able to get to one of the marvelous Sherlockian events that we read and hear about. We truly are impressed with those people who are Sherlockian by nature and hope to be considered worthy of being part of this unique and exciting world. In closing, my husband and I would like to extend our gratitude to Carolyn and Joel Senter for their website!"