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To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of former Director of the Columbus Department of Public Safety Alphonso Coleman Montgomery and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, May 21, 2008.
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WHEREAS, Alphonso Coleman Montgomery was born the sixth child to Charles H. Montgomery and Mary L. Steptoe Montgomery in Shreveport, Louisiana. At an early age his parents, both of whom were teachers, moved the family to east Texas. Here Alphonso received his early education. In 1944 he entered Prairie View A&M College at Prairie View, Texas. While there he was enrolled in the ROTC program. He graduated in 1948 receiving a B.S. degree in Biology with a minor in Education; and
WHEREAS, He also was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. In December 1948 Alphonso was called to active duty with the Army where he served in a variety of Infantry assignments. In May of 1952 he was sent to Korea where he served as a combat infantry commander, commanding Company "L" of the 160th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, in the Capy Yong Ni-Heartbreak Ridge area. Participation in three campaigns earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Commendation Ribbon with medal pendant and the Bronze Star medal; and
WHEREAS, In 1953, Mr. Montgomery was selected for assignment as Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Prairie View, serving as Senior Instructor responsible for all college junior cadets in advance course military science. He also served as the detachment Adjutant in Zweibrucken, Germany and in 1958 was Commander of a Company, Adjutant and later the Battalion S-3. He also served as the liaison to the German-American Group; and
WHEREAS, He enrolled in the University of Maryland to study German and achieved a measure of fluency in the language. Again stateside, Alphonso was assigned to the United States Army Intelligence School, Ft Holabird, Maryland where he completed several courses and assignments. Based on successful completion of the Training Course in Area Studies, he was assigned to the Defense Language Institute, West Coast Branch, for training in the French language. This course was successfully completed and he was granted a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Interpreter Translator; and
WHEREAS, Upon returning to the States, he attended the Intelligence Research Officers Course for the purpose of receiving cross-training in counter-intelligence. This was a successful endeavor and he graduated in April 1966; and
WHEREAS, The next assignment, remembered fondly, was that of Commander, Region IV, 109th Military Intelligence Group, Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Montgomery was responsible for the accomplishment of the Military Intelligence Mission within the State of Ohio, and those specific requirements as defined by the Commanding General, United States Army and the Commanding Officer. Duties included establishment and maintenance of liaison with policy-making officials of state and federal agencies and command level military officials; and
WHEREAS, After a very brief period of retirement, Mr. Montgomery-also known as "Monty," "The Colonel," "Director,"-entered into service for the State of Ohio as a part of the Department of Urban Affairs, heading up the field operations of the LEAA (a law enforcement planning agency). This entailed formulating policy in social and criminal justice matters, and representing the state at speaking engagements and conferences around the country. This position evolved into the Assistant Director/Director of the Administration of Justice Division, Department of Economic and Community Development; and
WHEREAS, In 1983 Mr. Montgomery was appointed as the City of Columbus' Director of Public Safety. He served in this capacity until his second retirement in 1990; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this elected body today humbly honors and recognizes former Public Safety Director Alphonso Coleman Montgomery, an outstanding public servant, a visionary and a true gentleman, with the utmost esteem on the occasion of his passing, May 21, 2008.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of the Resolution be presented to the family of Alphonso Coleman Montgomery with our sincerest condolences and respect.