With Danny Thomas, from left: Jo Phillips, Gay Cox, Ruth Vanhoosier, and Ann Rouse
The year 1972 was one for celebrity visits at the University of Tennessee Police Department.
In May of that year, both Welsh singer Tom Jones and singer and actor Danny Thomas paid visits to UT and met members of the UT Police Department.
On May 15, Thomas—who eventually went on to found St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis—had his photo taken with some of UTPD’s women officers.
With Tom Jones, from left: Gay Cox, Ann Rouse, Ruth VanHoosier, and Joanne Phillips.
Six days later, Jones—who went on to win a Grammy Award and be knighted by Queen Elizabeth—also took time for a photo.
The photographs give insight into uniforms worn by UTPD women officers in that era. In addition to the big hair that was common at the time, the officers sported pencil skirts, black low-heeled shoes, and white gloves. Each woman officer was issued a black purse in which to keep her gun.
This story is part of the University of Tennessee’s 225th anniversary celebration. Volunteers light the way for others across Tennessee and throughout the world.