Visitation today, services Friday
Edward Foster Tripp, former director of (Welfare) Human Services, former director of Public Safety and former commissioner of Corrections, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2006.
The visitation will be held Thursday, March 9 from 4-8 p.m. at Ted Foster & Sons White Chapel, 10192 Halls Ferry. The funeral is scheduled for Friday, March 10 at 11 a.m. at Washington Tabernacle Baptist Church, 3200 Washington Blvd.
Tripp came to St. Louis with his parents in 1932 and was a graduate of Vashon High School. He had a long history of work and dedication to the city of St. Louis. From December 1993 until April 1997, he was the director of Public Safety for the City of St. Louis under then Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr.
“He was one of the people chiefly involved in helping me to solve the problem of overcrowding at the Workhouse,” Bosley said. “Ed was one of the most renowned authorities on jails and prisons in the country, and the new city jail you see now is a result of his work.”
“I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Ed Tripp,” Mayor Francis G. Slay said. “Ed was a dedicated public servant and a gentleman. Because of his extensive knowledge, I was pleased to appoint him to the Board of Equalization for the last four years.”
From 1985 to 1998 Tripp worked as commissioner of Children and Youth Services and also worked as commissioner of Adult Correctional Services from 1977 to 1985. In 1973 he was appointed as the director of Human Services/Welfare for the city of St. Louis.
From 1988 until 1990 he worked as commissioner of Corrections for the city of St. Louis Department of Public Safety, where he was responsible for the administration and overall operation of the Division of Corrections including St. Louis Municipal Jail, Medium Security Institution (Workhouse), Community Services and Institutional Work Programs.
In 1978, Tripp was also field auditor and consultant for the American Correctional Association Commission on Accreditation for Corrections. He also served as an adjunct professor of corrections in the criminology department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Tripp attended Lincoln University where he obtained a bachelor’s of science degree in Education in June 1950. He went on to obtain a master’s of arts in Education and lifetime teaching certificate for Secondary Schools and College level instruction in June 1952.
He obtained a master’s of arts in Social Work with Agency Administration Orientation in June 1965.
During his career Tripp was the recipient of numerous awards for contributions to the field of corrections, including the prestigious E.R. Cass Award, which is the highest honor given by the American Correctional Association.
He was active in the community and his church, Washington Tabernacle M.B. Church, where he was a lifelong member. He was a member of the Board of the Annie Malone Children’s Home and was also affiliated with the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club, the Royal Vagabonds, Carver House and his beloved Omega Psi Phi.
Tripp is survived by his wife, Rose; sons, Stephen and Timothy (Rosetta); a sister, Brenda (Les) Willis; four grandchildren, Stephanie, Timothy, Austin and Eric; other family members and a multitude of friends.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club or the Annie Malone Children’s Home.
