Mo. trooper killed in 1933 honored in ceremony

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper killed 75 years ago while trying to catch a bank robber will be honored at a ceremony Friday.

The patrol said its Officer of the Year Award will be renamed for Sgt. Benjamin Booth, who was gunned down at a roadblock near Columbia on June 14, 1933. He was the first Missouri trooper to die in the line of duty.

Boone County Sheriff Roger Wilson was with Booth and was also shot to death at the roadblock that had been set up at U.S. 40 and U.S. 36. Booth was on his day off when he was called to work the roadblock.

Friday's event at the Boone County Sheriff's Department will include a visit to the scene of the shootings, and the placement of a wreath on Booth's grave in Columbia.

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Information from: KXEO Radio: http://info.kxeo.com

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On the Net: The Missouri State Highway Patrol: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov