Game Warden Harvey L. Monbeck
ODNR Division of Wildlife
November 5, 1927

On November 5th, 1927, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife Game Warden Harvey L. Monbeck was heading to an investigation when he suffered critical injuries in a vehicle collision.

He was driving northbound on a 2-lane highway in predawn darkness to a state game reserve, where for weeks he’d been investigating reports of offseason rabbit poaching. But when he came into an unlit stretch of roadway—just a half mile from his home—his car and a southbound bread truck collided head on. The first motorists on the scene found Game Warden Monbeck’s car in a nearby ditch, facing the opposite direction, its front end utterly demolished.

Harvey died of his injuries at the scene. The uninjured truck driver, who was the only eyewitness to the crash, was questioned and released.

Game Warden Monbeck was 61 years old at the time of his death, and had served as the state Game Warden for Montgomery County for eight years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, five sons, sister, and brother.

Harvey was a highly respected game warden who was entirely devoted to the preservation of game, but tolerant of infractions based on ignorance of the law. Prior to joining ODNR he had served as president of the N.C.R. Gun Club. He was well known for being an excellent trapshooter and hunter, and he loved trekking through the fields and woods.