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Martha B. Schnabel was born in Henrietta, Oklahoma on November 6, 1926 passed away on October 9, 2007 at the age of 80. Martha graduated from High School in 1944 as Valedictorian at Bryant, Oklahoma. After spending 20 years traveling with husband Harold in the Air Force, and having one daughter, Connie Sue, they settled in San Antonio. She became the first San Antonio policewoman who actually attended the Police Academy, and began a career as a matron in the old city jail. She passed the test for Detective, and became one of the states finest fingerprint experts and undercover narcotics detective. She gained the rank of Sergeant and supervised a large crew of personnel in the dispatchers office, a high-stress environment. She organized and presented self-defense classes for the women in the San Antonio area and instructed classes of police rookies at the Police Academy. Worked in the Juvenile Department; the Report Message Center; shoplifting- prevention details; and guarded female VIPs, including Lady Bird Johnson. She was voted Outstanding Woman of the Year for the Career category by the City of San Antonio. She appeared on CBS television show, To Tell the Truth. She was named in Notable Women of Texas, as well as the State Police Journal. She wrote Officer Mama, highlighting her career with the Police Department. Published in 1973 by Naylor Company. Officer Mama was the name given to her by co-workers at the police department. In 1990, she became the first Republican and the first woman Judge of Wilson County, serving eight years. During the time: A criminal-justice facility was built; Rancho de las Cabras became a National Park; The State committed to a 150-bed veterans nursing home to be built in Floresville; Wilson County Crime Stoppers was established; The Wilson County Mental Health Clinic opened. She accumulated over 200 judicial hours. Her professional affiliations include board of directors-Alamo Area Council of Governments AACOG; State Review Board Governor appointee; and Juvenile Board; Vice-President Board of Directors on Community Council of South Texas. Chairperson for Area Rural Judges. She was preceded in death by parents Nettie and Samuel Davis, 9 siblings, husband Harold Wayne Schnabel, and granddaughter, Cynthia Dawn Trafton. She is survived by daughter, Connie Trafton and husband Gene, grandchildren Brian Trafton and wife Amber of Houston and great granddaughter, Kimberly of Houston, Christopher Trafton and wife Tammy, great grandchildren Arthur and Frederick of Round Rock and granddaughter Ashley Christine Trafton of San Antonio. A host of friends and co-workers in San Antonio and Wilson County.

Tributes

Martha B. Schnabel

November 6, 1926 - October 9, 2007