Diane Ganyard 1949-2008

First female police officer in the city of Medina.

Diane Lynn Ganyard was a tiny dynamo!





She was born to Calvin and Arleen Ganyard and lived most of her life here in Medina County.

She was very active in school and graduated Medina High School in 1967








 And here is the list of activities she participated in:

1967 Medina High School Yearbook

CAA stands for Contemporary Affairs Association and was a current events club. She was also a member of the National Honor Society.

After high school Diane attended Eastern Kentucky University as a music major but after a semester, realizing it wasn't for her, quit and went to work as a cold-type setter for a printing company.

She knew she wanted to get into law enforcement and decided to join the United State Army as an MP (Military Police). However, the Army didn't have any slots open for MPs and wouldn't for a couple of years. She took an aptitude test and scored well enough in the languages area to be offered a position in the Army Security Agency.

Medina Gazette- 22 Mar 1973_p. 8

She enlisted for four years in the  Women's Army Corp (WAC) During her enlistment, the WACs were disbanded and women were incorporated into the regular United States Army. She trained as a German translator in Monterrey California. After completing her training, she was assigned to Teufelsberg near Berlin. Her unit listened to and transcribed tapes in German. She quickly moved into the Quality Control section.

Medina County Women
of the Military, Vol. II

Diane was stationed in Germany for 2 1/2 years and treasured her memories of being there. Because the Cold War was still on and Germany was still divided, East vs. West, soldier's movements were restricted and monitored to make sure they weren't intercepted. She rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Her time in Germany made her appreciate the freedoms we take for granted in the U.S. Diane was discharged from the Army in February 1977.


In December of 1979, Diane realized her ambition and became the first female police officer on the Medina Police Department.

Diane made "headlines" in the Medina Gazette. The article was buried on page 12

She was joined a few months later by Nancy Labadie.

Nancy Labadie, Chief Davis and Diane Ganyard.
Photo courtesy MedinaSquare.org

In 1984, Diane became a police sergeant.

In 1997, when Julia Hach was forming the Medina County Women of the Military, Diane was one of the first members and she would march with them in the Medina Memorial Day Parade whenever her duties on the police force allowed.

From the Waite & Son online obituary

Diane served on the police force for 30 years before her death in 2008.

An incredible woman who was a  pioneer at the Medina Police Force.


SOURCES:

• 1967 Medina High School Yearbook
• Medina County Women of the Military Volume 11, pp.67-74, Sharon Nicholson, Editor, 2005. 
• "Medina Police Hire First Woman Officer", Medina Gazette, 5 Dec 1979, page 12.
• Photo from the Waite & Son Funeral Home online obituary https://www.waitefuneralhome.com/obituary/284810 
• Photo of Diane Ganyard, Chief Davis and Nancy Labadie from Robert  Hyde's Beyond the Storefront web site.