Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo, sponsored a Senate resolution to honor Vandergriff, who became a trooper in 1937.
In the House, the sponsors were three former troopers — Reps. R.C. Pruett, D-Antlers; Paul Roan, D-Tishomingo, and Glenn Bud Smithson, D-Sallisaw.
Rabon said Vandergriff had been a longtime family friend.
"Ed was a teacher in Frogville, Oklahoma, when he read a newspaper article about the Legislature creating the Highway Patrol. He applied and was a member of the first state trooper class at OU in 1937," Rabon said. "He left for a few years to protect his country in World War II, but after returning home he returned to his job as a trooper. He really is a hero."
Vandergriff retired from the OHP in 1960, later serving as sheriff of Choctaw County for two years.
He said he had slowed down since turning 97 but was doing "pretty good."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
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