A father for all times | Thomas E. Shelton

When the newly released film “J. Edgar,” directed by Clint Eastwood, hit the screens in early November it brought back a flood of memories for Marcus Shelton about his father.

The Kent East Hill resident is the son of Thomas E. Shelton, a master sergeant in the Air Force, a 25-year Boeing employee and a mentor to Marcus.

The reason the “J. Edgar” film brought back memories for Marcus was his father was a latent fingerprint expert who worked extensively with both military and civilian law enforcement agencies including the FBI during the 1950s and 60s.

Some of the memorabilia Marcus had carefully preserved in a three-ring notebook included letters written to his father from J. Edgar Hoover thanking him for his work.

Marcus said his father worked with Scotland Yard on fingerprints and handwriting analysis.

He was also a weapons instructor for the Air Force.

“I didn’t realize how big he was,” Marcus said. “My dad knew a lot of important people.”

Much of his father’s history surfaced after his dad died in 2006.

He remembered his father could speak fluent Japanese and was head of the law enforcement for the Air Force while stationed in Germany.

Now 52 years old, Marcus looks back on the years with his father and mother, Patricia, as a very special and important time in his life.

“Dad was very strict, but he cared about us,” Marcus said. “He was a great provider.”

Marcus said the family moved to Kent in mid-70s after his father retired from the Air  Force. He spent 26 years wearing the Air Force uniform and worked the next two decades at Boeing.

Marcus opened the three ring notebook with his father’s papers, photographs of the war, medals and letters of commendation.

“I was very lucky to have him as a father,” Marcus said. “He had a profound effect on my life. I wish he were here right now.”