Col. Anson Barnhill Cook, age 93, died Saturday, May 31 at The Laurels of Norworth in Worthington. He was a retired Superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Col. Cook was born in Columbus on January 27, 1910 to Herman Core and Bessie McFadden Cook, who preceded him in death. He was graduated from Columbus North High School in 1928 and attended Wittenburg University where he lettered in varsity football and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Violet A. Cook and a sister Anna Mary Fisher. He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Catherine and Richard Baker of Westerville and Jacquelyn and Jan Cortright of East Tawas, Mich.; grandsons and wives, James and Coco Wilkerson of Harrisburg, Ill. and Scott and Karen Wilkerson of Oscoda, Mich.; granddaughters, Amy Baker of Westerville and Susan Baker of Gainesville, Fla.; great-granddaughters, Abigail and Rachael Wilkerson of Oscoda, Mich.; nieces, Patricia Eblin and Nancy Fisher of Columbus and Nancy Dell of Bellevue, Wash.; nephews, Thomas Fisher of New Albany and Stuart McArdle of Canton. He spent his entire professional career in law enforcement. He was a member of the Fourth Academy Class of the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 1934 and was commissioned in 1935. He served the Patrol in all ranks from Patrolman to Captain in ten locations around the state as well as at Patrol headquarters in Columbus. He was head of the Patrol post in Wilmington when he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1964 and named the Patrol's fourth superintendent. While in the position, he established the Resident Patrolman Program which provided permanent stationing of patrolmen in all counties not equipped with a Patrol post. He retired from the Highway Patrol in 1965 to become the first Executice Director of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council, a position he held until his retirement in 1978. During those years, he oversaw the establishment and of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy in London and coordinated police training in Ohio, which the state made mandatory beginning in 1965. He was a long-time member of the Columbus Rotary Club and an honorary member of the Westerville Rotary Club. He was a member of Maize Manor United Methodist Church, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, the Ohio State Patrol Retirees Association, Lodge 52 of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, Free and Accepted Masons, Valley of Toledo Scottish Rite, Aladdin Shrine of Columbus, The Columbus North High School Club, and Probus. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Franklin County Crippled Children Services. Friends may greet family the hour before his funeral service which will be held at Maize Manor United Methodist Church, 3901 Maize Rd. at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3. Officiating will be the Rev. James Freshour. Interment Kingwood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice in his name. SCHOEDINGER NORTH CHAPEL is assisting the family.

Columbus Dispatch, The (OH)
Date: June 2, 2003
Edition: Home Final
Page: 04D

Record Number: 0306020029
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Copyright (c) 2003 The Dispatch Printing Co.

The Wilmington Post of the OSHP, D8 - P14, was dedicated to Superintendent Colonel Anson B. Cook on Oct. 28, 2005. He served from Jan. 1, 1964 until Nov. 1, 1965.
OSHP History Unit.