ALL ABOUT ED
Ed Dobler, who was an altar boy and lived at 113-05 207th Street, graduated from St.
Pascal's in June, 1942. He remembers the nuns and priests, and reports that they
added classes each year while he was there. Ed worked with the groundskeeper, George
Steadman, cutting grass and trimming hedges in the summer, for which he thinks he made 50
cents a day. After graduation, he attended Woodrow Wilson high school. In 1944
Ed went into the navy and, 26 years later, after reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (boatswain), he retired to upstate
NY. From there moved west. His favorite ship, the cruiser Quincy, had 8 inch
guns and, rhapsodises Ed, "was a beautiful ship - cock of the walk!"
Ed now lives in Jordon, Montana, where he was sheriff
for a number of years. The Freeman tax resistors achieved national notoriety while
having their difficulties with the law in his neck of the woods. Ed had retired from
the sheriff job by then, but witnessed the FBI and others moving in to confront the group.
He was drawn to the area out of his desire to pursue big game (brown bear, moose, elk,
etc.). Ed's priceless contribution of the June 1942
graduation photo, for which he had to drive all over Montana to find a copy shop, is
greatly appreciated.
The following article, submitted by Ed, was marked "Local Paper."
STEPPING DOWN FROM OFFICE
EDWARD DOBLER
Effective Monday, January 7, 1991, Sheriff Edward H. Dobler will retire as Garfield
County Sheriff. Assuming the duties of Sheriff will be Charles A. Phipps, who prior to
becoming Sheriff-elect served in the capacity of Deputy Sheriff since July of 1986.
Ed's employment as a Special Deputy Sheriff, serving under Sheriff Spud Cremer,
commenced in April of 1985; he was appointed to Sheriff on December 16, of the same year.
In November of 1986, Ed was successful in the General Election and in January of 1987
assumed the position of Garfield County's duly elected Sheriff. He has held that position
since. His decision made last spring was not to seek another term, but to retire.
Mr. Dobler's first contact with Montana, namely Miles City, was in the later part of
1945, after the conclusion of World War II. Enroute to his home in New York, via bus from
Seattle, Washington, where his ship was moored after the cessation of hostilities with
Japan, Ed met a host of fine residents of the Treasure State. Upon arriving in Miles City,
Ed exited the bus and spent a few days (wild ones he says) on his return trip to Seattle,
after leave. Ed, on invitation, spent a few more days in Miles City and at that time
decided he would eventually return to Montana permanently.
On August 1, 1970, Ed retired from the U. S. Navy in the grade of Chief Warrant
Officer, ( Ship's Boatswain.). His last active duty station was serving in a Essex Class
Attack Aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Hancock CVA19. During his tenure in the sea service, which
included World War II and the Korean and Vietnam armed conflicts, Ed received numerous
awards, citations, and theatre of operational award ribbons and decorations. Travel was
quite extensive throughout the world, and conservatively, Ed estimates he made port of
calls in approximately sixty five countries and many of these were repeat voyages while
serving in various type classes of ships. While stationed at the Naval Station, Argentia,
Newfoundland, Ed served as Station Investigator with the Armed Forces Police and was
highly instrumental in organizing and training of the Base Police under the command of the
Provast Marshal who ultimately was responsible to the Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval
Station, Argentia, Newfoundland.
After a successful career, while being employed by a large supermarket food chain in
upstate New York, Ed decided to fulfill his desires, uproot and make the move to Montana.
This having been the results of Ed's many big game hunts throughout the North American
continent, which included many hunts to the western part of the U. S., especially Montana
and Idaho. Claude Saylor, of Brusett, was the motivating force behind Ed's move to Jordan.
"The clinching factor was the down to earth and true American spirit of the
residents, not only in Garfield County, but the entire state of Montana as well, "Ed
said.
Ed's intentions are to remain a resident of Garfield County and at times indulge in his
favorite sports of hunting and fishing. He is a life time member of the National Rifle
Association; he also holds fraternal membership and is a dues paying member of the
Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Sheriff's and Peace Officers Association and is a charter
member of the U.S.M.M. V of WWII.
Ed's plans for the future include part-time employment as a definite possibility.
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