Albert D. Mehegan ~ Longest Serving Special Agent

In the history of the Bureau, only three special agents served 50 or more years. Mehegan was the longest with 53 years, followed by SA's Joseph A. Genau at 52 years and Edward Armbruster with 51 years.

Mehegan served from 1922 until 1975, entering the Bureau of Investigation as it was known just two years before J. Edgar Hoover took the reigns as Director. A native Hoosier, Al was a star football and baseball player at Purdue University. With a mechanical engineering degree, he held engineering posts with a railroad company, the the U.S. Shipping Board during WWI and at Purdue before entering the Bureau in 1922.

Early in his career he was engagged in cases involving the Dillinger gang and "Baby Face" Nelson but later became known nationally for his expertise in Theft From Interstate Shipment cases. He achieved a legendary reputation among railroad and trucking industries and with insurance and police investigative personnel.

Al served in the Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit and Cincinnati field offices and was finally assigned to the Chicago office in 1932 working under SAC Melvin Purvis. He remained there until his retirement in 1975. In 1987 the Chicago Office dedicated the office firearms range in honor of this local hero.

Mehegan passed away on January 31, 1983 at the age of 96.