Troopers' Sister Plans Race for Remembrance

It’s never far from her mind – the possibility that one of her family members serving as a state trooper could be killed in the line of duty.

That’s why supporting The MASTERS – the highway patrol’s emergency relief society – is so important to Beth Knight, who counts three brothers among its officers.

“It’s very near and dear to my heart,” the 41-year-old Des Peres woman said.

Since its inception in 1931, 29 Missouri State Highway Patrol members have been killed in the line of duty. Troop C, which covers 11 counties in the St. Louis area, has suffered three fatalities in the past six years, the most recent being Sgt. Joseph Schuengel, a pilot who was killed last year in a helicopter crash in west St. Louis County.

“Not only does it hit home but I have three times the chance of it hitting home, which is scary,” Knight said.

“But it’s their passion,” she said of her brothers. “They love what they do.”

Because of her brothers, Knight became a member of The MASTERS (Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society) eight years ago and serves on its board.

After Schuengel was buried last year, she decided it was time to step up her involvement and started thinking about ways to raise money for The MASTERS and celebrate the life, service and sacrifice of fallen officers.

Knight is an avid runner, having participated in two marathons, several half marathons and numerous shorter road races over the last few years. So she came up with the idea of a "Run for Remembrance."

. The course begins at Bryan Middle School in Weldon Spring and winds through the headquarters of Troop C near the intersection of Highways 40 and 94.

Some 300 runners or walkers are already signed up, and Knight said participants could continue to sign up right up until race day. (For more information or to register, go to www.themastersmo.org.)

Knight has worked on the project for months, getting sponsors signed up, spreading the word to the running community, and taking care of all the little details she had never really given much thought to each time she had signed up as a runner.

“It’s a much bigger job than I ever expected when I was on the other side – you show up, you run, you go home,” she said. “I’ve really come to appreciate all the work that goes into planning these events.”

The MASTERS was formed in 1979 to help support a trooper’s family if he or she is killed in the line of duty. The organization helps with funeral expenses, loan payments, mortgage payments and bills. It also provides scholarships for the officer’s children.

Schuengel was killed Oct. 15, 2010, when the helicopter he was piloting crashed in west St. Louis County. He had been working a speed enforcement operation in Jefferson County shortly before the crash. He was 47 and had served in the patrol for 17 years.

Knight said she had met him only once but she said she felt like he was guiding her as she planned Saturday’s event.

“I feel like he’s watching over us and he’s on my side,” she said.