Colonel Weldon L. Wilhoit Retires

Colonel Weldon L. Wilhoit, 18th superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, retires June 1, 2001.

Colonel Wilhoit began his Patrol career on June 1, 1969 as a trooper in Gallatin. In 1979, he was promoted to corporal and transferred to Bethany. On January 1, 1985, the Patrol moved him to Cameron as the zone commander and promoted him to sergeant. In 1987, Wilhoit was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to serve in Troop B, Macon, as the operational and administrative lieutenant. In 1992, he became commanding officer of Troop B and attained the rank of captain.

In October of the following year, he was promoted to major and designated commander of the Field Operations Bureau, which coordinates and oversees the activities of all nine troops and the officers assigned to the field. On September 1, 1996, Wilhoit was promoted to lieutenant colonel and held the position of assistant superintendent of the Patrol. He held that position until Governor Mel Carnahan appointed him superintendent of the Patrol in September 1997, at which time he attained the rank of colonel.

As superintendent, Colonel Wilhoit was the commanding officer of the Patrol. He had jurisdiction over its affairs and acted as the sole authority for the adoption of policies.

“Being allowed to be a trooper–the public sees all of us as troopers, regardless of rank–for 31 years was a great honor,” said Colonel Wilhoit.

Colonel Wilhoit and his wife Kathy have four children: Mark, Angie, Brian, and Kelly. Colonel Wilhoit’s son, Mark, is a trooper with the Highway Patrol. A native of Shelbina, Wilhoit is a veteran of the U.S. Army.