Elmer was born in the Rockford community 14 miles west of McAlester. He joined the McAlester Police Department in 1952 and advanced through the ranks to Police Chief in 1958, one of the youngest to hold that position. In 1963, Durant was appointed a federal probation officer and assigned to Durant. Twenty years later, he retired from federal service and since had lived on his farm at Tupelo, OK. One of his proudest accomplishments was persuading the State Legislature in the 1950s to implement the Oklahoma Police Pension Plan. As a police officer and police chief, he was exceptionally popular in McAlester and he enjoyed tremendous public support, especially among youth and their parents. Before the Boys Club was organized in McAlester, he formed recreational programs such as boxing clubs and other activities to benefit youth. He was one of the first to recognize the value of public relations and initiated several such programs during his tenure as a McAlester policeman. He was also active in Masonic affairs. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary, of the home in Tupelo; two daughters, Barbara Zanol, Beaver Creek, OH and Marian Richmond, Ft. Worth, TX; a son, David Durant of Lexington; his mother, Willie Mae of McAlester; a brother, Sheriff Bennie Durant of McAlester; four sisters, Lois Ward of Tulsa, Laveta Easley of Broken Arrow, Patricia Dyers of Tulsa, and Susie Boatner of McAlester. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Lillian.
Elmer was born in the Rockford community 14 miles west of McAlester. He joined the McAlester Police Department in 1952 and advanced through the ranks to Police Chief in 1958, one of the youngest to hold that position. In 1963, Durant was appointed a federal probation officer and assigned to Durant. Twenty years later, he retired from federal service and since had lived on his farm at Tupelo, OK. One of his proudest accomplishments was persuading the State Legislature in the 1950s to implement the Oklahoma Police Pension Plan. As a police officer and police chief, he was exceptionally popular in McAlester and he enjoyed tremendous public support, especially among youth and their parents. Before the Boys Club was organized in McAlester, he formed recreational programs such as boxing clubs and other activities to benefit youth. He was one of the first to recognize the value of public relations and initiated several such programs during his tenure as a McAlester policeman. He was also active in Masonic affairs. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary, of the home in Tupelo; two daughters, Barbara Zanol, Beaver Creek, OH and Marian Richmond, Ft. Worth, TX; a son, David Durant of Lexington; his mother, Willie Mae of McAlester; a brother, Sheriff Bennie Durant of McAlester; four sisters, Lois Ward of Tulsa, Laveta Easley of Broken Arrow, Patricia Dyers of Tulsa, and Susie Boatner of McAlester. He was preceded in death by his father and a sister, Lillian.
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