Reflections of Lester (Les) A. Davis ’65, M.S. ’70
In 1969, after having taught at Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, I joined the FBI as a Special Agent. I served in the FBI until my retirement in 1994, having completed 25 years of service.
Lester (Les) A. Davis ’65, M.S. ’70
My assignments took me to the FBI Field Division in Jackson, Mississippi, where I served in the Oxford, Mississippi, Resident Agency, home of Ole’ Miss. I was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I served until 1978. I was fortunate to be promoted to Supervisory Special Agent and transferred to the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, home of the U.S. Marine Corps base.
My assignments ranged from case investigations in the criminal, internal security, and civil rights areas. My education at ISU and my teaching experience was useful to the FBI, as I taught various level professional courses to state and local law enforcement and to new Agent trainees.
While I was assigned to the FBI Academy I was also an adjunct faculty member of the University of Virginia, in that the courses I taught to state and local law enforcement were accredited through that university. I also had the good fortune to travel to many foreign countries and make friends with many outstanding people who are still good friends today.
While I was in training school at the Academy in 1969, I was surprised to meet Bill Matens, who also was a new FBI Special Agent trainee. Bill and I were both art majors at ISU and both members of Alpha Theta Tau, the art fraternity. I was president, Bill was vice president.
We’ve come full circle. I am now the national president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, and Bill is one of my vice presidents. He serves as regional vice president of the North-Central region, which encompasses the states from Ohio west to Iowa and north to North Dakota.
It’s a small world. In discussing our good fortunes we both agree that we would do it all over again.
