Danville, Kentucky - Press Release For Search Of FBI Relatives & Friends
Retired FBI Agent Tracks History of Legendary G-Men And Their Local Partners
Danville, Kentucky 2018
If your father, grandfather, uncle, or good friend was an FBI “G-Man” during the 1930’s gangster’s era, there’s a retired FBI Agent interested in your tale.
He seeks the legends, lies and family members and others of 1930s FBI and the battles of the era.
Retired FBI Agent Larry E. Wack said, “No doubt the ongoing trend will continue in American history and there will be re-enactments, media reports, movies and stories with an eye toward the notorious. Names like John Dillinger, ‘Baby Face’ Nelson, Bonnie and Clyde come to mind. While gangsters draw fascination for many, those pursuing justice have their place in history. The ‘G-Men’ of J. Edgar Hoover’s Depression Era have all but been forgotten. “My emphasis is not on the desires of the killers, kidnappers and bank robbers, but their pursuers.” adds Wack.
He’s created the website "Faded Glory: Dusty Roads Of An FBI Era" to honor the FBI men of the ‘30s and the local officers who assisted them in their pursuit. Importantly too, the lifestyles of the men, their families and careers as they walked the halls of the FBI.
“During one of the most violent, bloodiest years in FBI history this is very significant to law enforcement. In 1933-1934 alone, several G-Men lost their lives in the line of duty and shootouts.” says Wack. Other Agents were wounded and nearly killed. The FBI of the 1930s held some legendary pioneers. There are unsung heroes never profiled anywhere in books or history and with some, their roles have become distorted. “I am concerned as the clock ticks down; information about their lives is becoming harder to discover.”
We are paying tribute to these pioneers of law enforcement and their families. Their relatives are vital to historical accounts of investigating gangsters. Since providing a medium for communicating with relatives we have uncovered some very interesting information,” Wack said. The Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) with FBI files has cleared many of the stories with the battles that ensued, policy issues and more that writers and researchers never really examined.
“We heard from the son of G-Man, SA (Special Agent) William “Buck” Buchanan, who actually helped in solving a long time question in FBI history (regarding gangster, Alvin Karpis) because his father was directly involved in the answer ,” Wack said. “Another son of ‘30s G-Man, SA George H. Franklin has provided some fascinating information on his father’s early association with Southwest lawman and even the legendary Elfego Baca in addition to his father’s role in many of the high profile cases of the times. The son of one of the FBI men present at the tragic shootout of “Little Bohemia” provided some insights to his mother’s fears of becoming a widow. Others have responded paying tribute to forgotten heroes.” says Wack.
“Sons, daughters and others whose bloodline include a G-Men are a precious asset to this venture. Their tales, photos and memorabilia are helpful to our cause,” Wack said. “The biographies of these men are significant to law enforcement history. Many of them hailed from Southwestern law enforcement, including Texas Rangers, Oklahoma detectives, and others law enforcement agencies. Lawyers and accountants from around the United States were G-Men,” he adds.
The website, which is titled “Faded Glory; Dusty Roads of an FBI Era,” is a tribute to the FBI Agents of the ‘30s. The website uses dated case documents, now public, in addition to family testimonials, biographies, faded photos and more to tell the story of these young G-Men and the young FBI in which they served. Surviving relatives of 1930’s G-Men, crime buffs, students, researchers and others will benefit from this website.
While Wack emphasizes this project is limited in scope to the 1930’s, he is hopeful to expand this venture to other FBI history.
Note: Larry Wack is not a spokesman for the FBI, or any of its affiliate organizations or The Society Of Former Special Agents of The FBI, Inc. The above website is personally owned.