name of newspaper: Scottsbluff Daily Star-Herald
         location: Scottsbluff, Nebraska
  date of article: Saturday, January 17, 1970
             page: unknown


[picture caption]
CAPTAIN RETIRES -- Clyde Luth, captain on the Scottsbluff Police force, is retiring after 21 years with the department. Luth says he has enjoyed the work and met many fine men over the years. He intends to continue to live in the city and plans to do more than his share of fishing. (Star-Harold Photo)

Luth Retires After 21 Years on Police Force

By CHUCK MAYER
(Star-Harold Staff Writer)

  "I've never shot anyone or been shot at myself," reminisced retiring Scottsbluff Police Capt. Clyde Luth. "However, if everyone who promised to shoot me would have I'd be most holy."
  The soft spoken captain is retiring from the Scottsbluff Police force after serving 21 years and one month. He has spent over 30 years in law enforcement work, starting in Alma, Neb., and spending five years in Lincoln before coming to Scottsbluff in 1949.
  In the 21 years at Scottsbluff he worked for eight police chiefs and three acting chiefs. Some of the chiefs he worked under were:  Jim Hedge, Marvin Nelson, Art Hill, Cecil Rhodes, Floyd Hullinger, Robert Lacy, Richard Camper and currently, Jim Teal.

  "The town has changed some," said Luth. "It used to be a night town, places stayed open all night and people were always on the streets. There used to be a lot more drinking, but this halted when the south end of Broadway was changed."
  He walked a beat for the first three years he worked here and remembers that the alleys were not paved at that time and there were no parking meters.
  With the growth that has taken place during his 20 years of service, the job of keeping law and order has become harder he feels, but kids are still kids. "They are going to go up and down Broadway and toot their horns at the their friends," he smiled. "There's nothing belligerent and they're not intent on causing any trouble, just keeping busy."

  There have been some tough times, some hot and some cold, but a lot of "smooth" going also. "I have met some mighty fine men during my working years," he explained, "and there has been a lot of improvement in the department over the years.
  "We did not have a pension plan or social security when I started. I think this is real improvement and the department is trying to keep abreast of the times, always upgrading techniques. All this has been good." he finished.
  Luth preferred the night shift during his tenure and when asked why, he said: "Well, I like to do what I want during the day and we miss out on a lot of petty disturbances such as dogs and family squabbles."

  When asked what he would do differently if he had it to do over, he smiled and said, "I would do it all over again I believe. I was a lot happier on my first day at work then on my last. In those days a job was pretty hard to come by and I was tickled to death to get it."
  He not only got the job but he stayed with it. As for his retirement years Luth explained, "I have a boat and intend to do my share of fishing and I like to work in the yard. I suppose my wife will have a few things for me to do, too." he grinned.
  "All in all its been a good life. I raised my family and feel we have a good town and it's a good place to live, and I am going to continue to do so."