Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Flint Portraits: Wilburn LeGree

After numerous requests, I'm re-posting this from April 13, 2008:

All this talk of Homedale Elementary reminded my mom of Wilburn LeGree, "The Singing Cop" who used to visit schools all over Flint. She can still sing LeGree's classic ditties like "The Boys of the Safety Patrol" and "When You Cross the Street."


The State Bar of Michigan presented LeGree its Liberty Bell Award in 1999 and provided this biography:

"LeGree's career as the "Singing Cop" began in 1938 after a rise in rates of children being struck and killed by vehicles. LeGree was assigned to develop a school safety program and incorporate something that would grasp the children's attention -- music. The chief of police overheard LeGree singing and decided to put LeGree's talents to work.
"LeGree and his wife wrote words to popular musical tunes about obeying the law, safety in all situations and seeing police officers as friends. He visited hundreds of schools and sang his songs to children. Before he stopped counting, he estimated that he had performed safety songs to 25,000 students over a four-year period.
"LeGree's songs have been used in 46 states across the country as well as schools in Germany, Australia and New Zealand."


26 comments:

  1. William LeGree was a real trailblazer in the Flint Law Enforcment Music subgenre. Does anybody remember "Vandal and the Felons"? They were a Sha Na Na-esque band of Flint cops from the 70s and 80s that would perform at schools. In the late 80s my non-cop neighbor played in an R&B/Soul/Funk group with a couple of Flint's Finest. Any other cop rockers out there?

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  2. These posts are wonderful. Wilburn was a fixture in the Flint area for many years and to people that are still here to remember him, he is sorely missed. His professionalism would be of high value today.

    Professor, may I humbly suggest an article devoted to the longtime Catholic priest that guided many souls at the time you attended St. Mary's Grade School in Flint? I might even be pursuaded to add to that subject; maybe something interesting to the good readers here...

    Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous, I think I know who you're talking about. I still have nightmares about confession with him. I'll see what I can do.

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  4. If you recall, students were required to go to confession every six weeks whether or not it was needed. Entering that little room through the long red curtain and kneeling down on that kneeler that activated the light outside the confessional while waiting for that wooden partition to slide open slowly between you and your worst fears...whew! That was much to say in one huge sentence, but the question is after having read that do you recall that nightmare again???

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  5. "Numerous requests," my Aunt Tillie's elbow ... you just want some money

    heh

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  6. Nah, I don't care about the donation. Just wanted you to know that I didn't run the songbook image, which I appreciated you sending, because I'd already run it last year.

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  7. As Madeline Kahn said to no one in particular in Young Frankenstein, "Whatta nice guy."

    Or was that Lili in Blazing Saddles?

    I only minored in Mel Brooks films, so I'm a little foggy on the details.

    So, if I just send you a nice Koegel pimento loaf in lieu of the quan, you'll be OK with that, geewhy?

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  8. "Don't go near the railroad track, for it's no place to play. When trains go past, they go fast and you might be in the way...Toot-toot!" Kids liked that one, because at the end they got to pretend they pulled a whistle. Hundreds of thousands of kids over the many years he performed,got to be the engineer that day. Wilburn LeGree was a personification of what police professionalism truly means,on and off the beat. What a guy. Ed too, was loved by the kids as he played the accompaniment on the accordion for many of those years....unclebuck

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    1. Sgt LeGree was an important fixture in my life. Taught that safety song to my grandchildren. Anyone remember the name of Sgt LeGree’s accordianst?

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    2. Ohhhh. Myyyyy. That is the song I was trying to remember besides Let The Ball Roll. This was back in the early 40's at the Lincoln school. Awesome memory !!!

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  9. Now you're talking. I can resist monetary inducements, but Koegel bribes are a different story!

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  10. Doug -- Blazing Saddles. "Gee, what a nice guy."

    "It's trooo! It's trooo!"

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  11. I don't believe I've yet to see anyone mention that in the fifties Mr. Legree also had a Flint based radio show targeted mainly at an adult audience. I remember his themesong was "The Old Rugged Cross". I remember his radio voice sounding outstanding when compared to the tunes he and Ed did in the schools; but thats where the memories fade. I can't remember if he was a tenor or a baritone. I wonder if any of your readers still remember that.

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    1. He was a baritone. He had radio shows on both WFDF and WMRP.

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  12. I still remember Wilburn Legree in assembly at Homedale School auditorium and my class singing with great gusto, "Let The Ball Roll Boys, Let The Ball Roll"
    It was a time when kids considered policemen their friends and Officer McGree was a pal in our lives.
    I noticed another comment from someone in Homedale School, maybe she was in my class. I remember two teachers well. Miss Palmer and Mrs. Reynolds and of course Miss Oulette for gym. Miss Coats, principal. Oh and a really nice art teacher, Miss Barnes. Miss Peek for auditorium. Unite Homedale alumni.

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  13. I'm sitting here with my mother in law in Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. She started singing " Let the ball" because a neighbor boy ran into the street to get a ball. She began to tell us about Officer Legree and so I looked him up and found your blog. She was stunned. Her name is Dolly Garner and she went to Durant Elementary. She has very fond memories of this kind man.

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  14. Glad you found the blog, Dolly and daughter!

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  15. My husband and I remember Sgt. LeGree at Zimmerman elementary. It was so much fun to sing along with him. I taught my four children the song when they learned to cross a street alone. I remember them crossing to see their grandma and yelling, "I looked both ways, can I go?"

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  16. I remember going to a "revival" somewhere around Flint in a tent. I was just a toddler but I remember my Mom and Dad going to this tent more than once. Sat outside in folding chairs and straw on the ground. Anyone else remember this? My parents love him. Great memories.

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    1. There were yearly "tent" meetings on Pasadena and LaVelle Roads in an open field. They brought in various evangelists and Lt. Legree led the singing with his wife at the organ.

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    2. I remember those tent meetings also. Just found this web page / so excited to remember the singing cop / I loved to listen and learn from him back in the Lincoln School / I attended at that time !!!

      Wilbur LeGree a name always remembered !!!

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    3. In 1982 at Dartmouth Missionary Church near Pasadena & Lavelle Rd, is where this gentlemen taught a Sunday School class of mine when I was only 10 yrs old. It was through him that I was introduced to Christianity and accepted Jesus Christ as my saviour in this wicked world. God truly blessed me with bringing "the singing cop" into my life. I look today at how much this country has changed (for the worst) and it is absolutely amazing the people God will bring into yohe life...

      I had no idea LeGree was this famous. He was good friends with a old pastor of mine---John Tuckey.

      God bless this man....

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  17. I remember him as Lt. Legree. I was around 8 to 12 years old - late 50's -when he visited our Sunday school class at Asbury United Methodist Church. He was wonderful, I asked questions, and before he left he gave me a small Bible with a short encouraging note from him on the inside cover. I kept it with me no matter where I moved - for years. I thought of it last week, wondering where it was, and then today while researching Homedale School I found this site. Very nice to read about him, and remember someone positive from my childhood.Thanks everyone. Now I wish I could find my little Bible with notes in it.

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  18. To anyone who is interested, I have a signed copy of The Sweetest Melodies no.2 as sung by Wilber Legree that my mom had as she grew up in Flint and remembered this man well. I would like to send it to someone who would like it. Should I donate to Flint Police??

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    1. Did you ever find a home for Lt.Legree's copy as per your comment. Just wondering, as I do remember him singing for us and talking to me in Sunday School at Asbury Methodist Church when I was little.

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  19. Didn't he have a big traffic light that he used to bring around with him as part of the show? That sticks in my mind for some reason

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Thanks for commenting. I moderate comments, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. You might enjoy my book about Flint called "Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City," a Michigan Notable Book for 2014 and a finalist for the 33rd Annual Northern California Book Award for Creative NonFiction. Filmmaker Michael Moore described Teardown as "a brilliant chronicle of the Mad Maxization of a once-great American city." More information about Teardown is available at www.teardownbook.com.