A retired Winfield police captain and longtime community member passed away last week.
Gary Utt died May 30 in Wichita.
“We were saddened to learn of the passing earlier this week of Retired Captain Gary Utt,” the Winfield Police Department said in a Facebook post late last week. “Gary hired on with our department in 1960, and retired as a captain in 1987. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Utt, 84, was buried at Highland Cemetery in Winfield Friday following services.
According to Utt’s obituary, he grew up with a love of baseball.
“He was a catcher and an exceptional batter never striking out,” it said. “He played town team baseball for Dexter, Cedar Vale and Winfield Night League for many years. His proudest moment in baseball was batting against Satchel Paige in the Wichita baseball tournament.”
Utt, who graduated from a Cambridge High School in 1956, continued to be a busy man following his retirement from the WPD. He worked on the Cowley County Road Crew, Walnut Township and Walnut Valley Festival. Gary volunteered annually at the Boy Scout Chili Feed and Eagle Nest.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
