Chatman, 74, Altoona, was recently honored with the Respected Citizen Award from the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission.

Chatman said he was humbled by the honor.

“I don’t chase awards. This isn’t about me, it’s about God’s spirit in the life I’ve lived and continue to live,” Chatman said.

Chatman has worn numerous hats during his career — a Pennsylvania State Police officer, security service owner, an honored wrestling official, a minister and more.

Bernie Chatman (left) speaks with Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rocky Bleier. In addition to his years as a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, Chatman has dedicated his life in the service of others, through his roles as a security service owner, an honored wrestling official and minister. Courtesy photo

“Bernie is a tremendous human being. He puts his family first and his community second. He is the type of guy that you want as your friend, because he will be the first person to give you a helping hand or the shirt off his back whatever you need,” said Mike Hofer, CBRC executive director. “He has one of the biggest hearts around and truly cares about the people in his community. Bernie is always ready to serve any way he can when he is called upon.”

Dave Cunningham has served for many years with Chatman on the board of directors of the Booker T. Washington Revitalization Corp., which has built playgrounds across the city.

“He immediately wanted to be a part of the improvements. He was a huge part of that success in his own neighborhood, and he has just continued to help build park after park around the city. That’s just how he lives his life, working to make things better every day,” Cunningham said. “I’ve never known anyone who works so hard and is so dedicated: to his faith, to his family, to his community, even to his business. The man is nonstop, and everything that he does is done with such love and human kindness.”

Donna Gority, president of ArtsAltoona and a longtime Blair County commissioner, called Chatman “the personification of a true gentleman.”

“He is always a positive, respectful part of any discussion at a meeting or in a conversation. He is very giving of himself and his resources. Bernie tends to be fairly quiet and work behind the scenes, but he has contributed a great deal by offering his security services and more as a minister as well,” Gority said. “His lifetime of service should be known in the community and I think this recognition brings light to this gentle, giving, all around “good guy.”

Chatman’s journey began in 1950 when he was born in Shannytown, a little village outside of Mount Union. He was born in a two-room shanty with no running water.

“I grew up in a small town, I was born in poverty like a lot of other people in the 1950s,” Chatman said.

Members of his family and friends had moved from the south to work at the brickyard in Mount Union. He said Mount Union was a nice community in which to grow up.

“It was loving, caring and everybody knew everybody. Everybody would have your back. It was a really congenial, friendly, open, loving community,” Chatman said.

Chatman said he knew from the age of 12 that he wanted to become a state police trooper.

“I would see patrol cars coming through town. They knew what was going on. I wanted to be the guy who knew what was going on,” Chatman said.

He said he read an article about Ben Brooks becoming the first Black trooper in 1962.

“I thought if he can get it, I could do it. It was a struggle to get there. That was my goal since I was 12 years old,” Chatman said.

An incident in Baltimore when he was 12 years old further inspired him.

“Our Little League team went to Baltimore to see the Orioles. We went to a restaurant, they told me and another young man that we couldn’t eat in the restaurant,” he recalled. “At that time, I said to myself, I will spend the rest of my life so my children never have to experience this and make changes. I said I will make a difference and become a police officer and change the way people are treated from inside.

“I wanted to be a trooper to make a difference on a larger scale,” Chatman said.

Chatman became the 27th Black trooper in 1972.

During his career, he served at many barracks including Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Carlisle, Rockview, Lewistown and Huntingdon.

“The Pennsylvania State Police are unique. You can be a trooper and do all types of things. I did so many different tasks, the state police educated me to no end. When I started, the old-time sergeants were hard on everybody, especially me. They forced me to be the best I could be and better; if I didn’t, I was gone,” Chatman said. “They are the most dedicated, smartest and most caring and proudest individuals who you will ever want to know.”

When stationed at Lewistown, Chatman became involved in a shootout in May 1987.

“It was a domestic abuse case in New Lancaster Valley near Lewistown on top of Seven Mountains. A man set the house on fire. When we got there, firemen were responding. He started unloading with a high power rifle. He shot my partner (Trooper Philip Rickert) and killed two firemen,” Chatman said.

Rickert was seriously wounded and in 1985, Chatman became the first Black Pennsylvania State Trooper to receive the State Police Medal of Honor in recognition of conspicuous gallantry and in honor of his bravery and professionalism and dedication to duty for saving the life of a wounded trooper.

Chatman retired from the state police in 1998 as the ranking corporal with the state police. He served 25.5 years, 19 years as a corporal.

“I didn’t call it retiring, I called it refocusing,” Chatman said.

While serving in the communities where he resided, he coached boxing, wrestling and Pee Wee/midget football.

“I coached the Lewistown Pee Wee Midgets for one year and we were undefeated and unscored upon,” Chatman said.

Chatman also took college classes while serving with the state police.

He received a bachelor’s degree in police science/criminal justice from Elizabethtown College in August 1999 and a master’s degree in education from Wilkes University, also in 1999.

In the meantime, he started a company called Tri County Pool Service.

“I used to build swimming pools in the Lewistown and Altoona areas.” Chatman said.

Sports have always been a part of Chatman’s life as he participated in football, wrestling and track in high school. He later became a well-known wrestling official, as he spent 38 years as a PIAA and NCAA wrestling official and was named a National Hall of Fame Wrestling Official and inducted into the Huntingdon County Hall of Fame for wrestling, football and track.

Chatman also found time to teach for 10 years.

“I taught police science at the Juniata and Mifflin County Vo-Tech School. I opened up and operated a treatment program, where I took care of troubled kids,” Chatman said. “I taught kids how to learn and listen, kids who were lacking in grades. I helped them get up to standards and get good grades. I had a knack for getting kids to listen and getting their minds to understand what their capabilities were.”

Chatman, who has been a regular church-goer his entire life, helped churches in both Mifflin and Blair counties obtain tax-exempt status.

“I wanted to be part of something that was going to make a difference. It is a contribution that is everlasting,” Chatman said.

Chatman and his late wife, Joan, had moved to Altoona in 2010 to help a security company. He ended up saving the company and keeping it from going under.

He bought out a partner and started Keystone Investigation and Security Specialist LLC Inc., and Chatman, a licensed private investigator, still runs the business today.

Chatman became a minister in 2021 and currently serves as a minister on the staff at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Altoona. He also substitutes at other churches throughout the area.

“That was two years before my wife died. It was a calling. God called me into the ministry. God gives you hunches,” Chatman said. “I was following his lead to be a better person. I always had a calling, it was just acting on it. It was time to fulfill that mission.”

As far as role models, he cites his parents Peter and Matril Chatman and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. Portraits of King and Kennedy hang prominently on the walls of Chatman’s home.

“They put themselves out there, not for themselves, but to help other people and were willing to give their lives to do that,” Chatman said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.

The Chatman file

Name: Bernie Chatman

Age: 74

Position: Winner of CBRC Respected Citizen Award

Education: 1968 graduate of Mount Union High School and 1999 graduate of Elizabethtown College with a bachelor’s degree in police science/criminal justice and a 1999 graduate of Wilkes University with a master’s degree in education.

Family: Late wife, Joan; sons, Bernie Jr., of Rocky Hill, Conn., a senior manager for Lockheed Martin and Nathan of Hollidaysburg, an accountant and NCAA wrestling official; and six grandchildren.

Quote: “I wanted my children to grow up to be well-educated and be treated like everyone else, not hindered or denied opportunities.”