Part 3
Badge
Collection
Interspersed
with Elvis’ collection of firearms in the Trophy Room at Graceland is his
assortment of law enforcement badges on the badges. Elvis appreciated and
respected law officers and security personel, particulary after they began to
protect him from frenzied crowds while touring during the 1950’s. When he
began collecting badges, word spread quickly, and various local police
departments and security agencies made him an honorary member of their law
enforcement fraternities. From the police department of Prince George’s County,
Maryland, to the sheriff’s department
of Los Angeles, Elvis was honored with badges from all over the country.
One
of the more interesting stories related to Elvis’ badge collection involved a
trip to the seat of America’s government. In December 1970, Elvis boarded a
commercial flight bound for Washington, D.C. He then flew from D.C. to Los
Angeles, where he picked up friend Jerry Schilling. The pair returned to D.C.
and were joined by bodyguard Sonny West. Elvis went to the nation’s
capital to drop in on one of the city’s prominent residents..President
Richard M. Nixon.
Though
Elvis told Nixon that he had come beause he was concerned about the youth of the
country, he also mentioned that he was interested in getting a federal narcotics
bureau badge. He had first asked Bureau of Narcotics Deputy Director John
Finlator didn’t feel it was appropiate, so Elvis went over his head. During
his impromptu visit to the White House, Elvis presented Nixon with a WW Two
Colt.45 and asked the President for the badge he coveted. When Nixon came
through with the badge, Elvis was so thrilled he gave the President a bear hug.
Firearm
Collection
Elvis
owned an extensive collection of firearms. He simply enjoyed buying, carrying
and collecting guns. When he died in 1977, he owned 37 firearms, including
rifles, pistols, machine guns, and a sawed off shotgun.
Currently
on display in the Trophy Room, Elvis’ gun collection features several unique
pieces that command attention. A Colt Python. 357 pistol is personalized with
Elvis’ TCB Logo in gold just behind the chamber.
