501 Cleveland Rd W
Huron, OH 44839
USA
Police Museum Donation Ceremony Highlights Cleveland’s Deep Star Trek Heritage
The International Federation of Trekkers Becoming Platinum Sponsors of Cleveland Police Museum
“In the Line of Duty” Memorial in Honor of Gene Roddenberry’s Father-in-Law
Star Trek’s Cleveland heritage will be recognized in conjunction with the International Federation of Trekkers (IFT) becoming Platinum Level Sponsors of the Cleveland Police Museum “In the Line of Duty” memorial at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, 2021 at IFT World Headquarters located at 501 Cleveland Road West, Huron OH 44839. The donation presentation ceremony will feature representatives of the Cleveland Police Museum and Historical Society and the IFT. The IFT Disaster Relief Shuttlecraft, the USS Galileo, will be on display alongside a 1940’s vintage Cleveland Police paddy wagon/ambulance. IFT World Headquarters will be open to the public. Attendees may have their photos taken in a screen accurate original series captain’s chair and tour the museum.
Cleveland is well known for the origin of Superman and the Christmas Story house, yet very few people are aware of Cleveland’s deep roots in the Star Trek franchise.
Majel Barret, known as the First Lady of Star Trek and wife of Star Trek’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, was born and raised here in Cleveland. Majel’s father, grandfather, and uncle were Cleveland Police officers. Her father, William R. Hudec, was killed in the line of duty on August 30, 1955.
The Cleveland Police Museum has long had their Heroes Roll Call “Wall of Honor” featuring the badges of fallen heroes. Though the wall has long served as a fitting memorial to officers who were killed in the line of duty, it did not incorporate information regarding the officer’s career, end of watch, and associated photographs. In 2019, the Cleveland Police Historical Society and Museum opened a state-of-the-art, interactive digital memorial and commenced raising public funds to finance the project. The USS Challenger, Cleveland Chapter of the IFT, commanded by Vice Admiral Joe Outlaw, undertook a ship’s mission to raise funds for the new memorial. The IFT subsequently became a $500 Gold Level Sponsor when the memorial was opened to the public and made a commitment to increase their sponsorship to the Platinum Level the following year. The pandemic limited fundraising activities in 2020, however, and it was not until this year that the $1,000 Platinum Sponsorship goal is being achieved.
This is just a part of Cleveland’s Star Trek heritage. The IFT was not only founded here in the Greater Cleveland area, but is the only Star Trek fan club that was created with the direct participation and support of Gene Roddenberry. Gene was our first Fleet Admiral, and his son, Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Jr., is a Lifetime Member, as are several members of the Original Series cast such as Nichelle Nichols and George Takei.
People may know that Star Trek premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966, now celebrating its 55th anniversary as a franchise. Yet even the most devout Star Trek fans may not know that the first public showing of Star Trek was presented by Gene Roddenberry himself here in Cleveland on September 6, 1966 at Worldcon, the world science fiction convention and Hugo Awards ceremony, held at the Sheraton Renaissance Hotel on Public Square. Worldcon was also know as TriCon as it represented the cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit that year. It was here in Cleveland that Gene Roddenberry revealed Star Trek to the greatest authors of the Golden Age of science fiction, establishing long time creative relationships with such icons as Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, and Harlan Ellison.
It is time that Cleveland’s rich Star Trek heritage is no longer a best kept secret. From the birthplace of Majel Barrett and the International Federation of Trekkers, to its status as the first public showing of Star Trek, to the Star Trek connection with our Fallen Heroes, Cleveland is a founding member of the Star Trek Universe!
The International Federation of Trekkers, Inc., aka The Federation, is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to community service, EIN 34-1705959.
IFT Headquarters: https://trekfederation.com/hq/
IFT History: https://trekfederation.com/hq-offices/history/
Star Trek, IFT, and USS Challenger History: http://www.outlawproductions.com/ifthistory/
Ohio Magazine Article, May 2021: https://www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/article/on-a-mission
Cleveland Police Museum: https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org
Hudec Memorial Entry: https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/heroes/heroes-roll-call-patrolman-william-r-hudec-116/
Historical Police Vehicle: https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/vintage-fleet/1940-international-emergency-mobile-patrol/