Original NAIS Announcement
On The Death Of Hal Lipset
And The Bug In The Martini Olive
By Ralph Thomas

World Famous Private Investigator Hal Lipset Passes Away In San Francisco

The National Association Of Investigative Specialists would like to release it's condolences on the passing of perhaps one of the most famous and outspoken private investigators in the United States, Hal Lipset, out of San Francisco. Mr. Lipset's biography can be found in a quite interesting book titled:

THE BUG IN THE MARTINI OLIVE

Hal Lipset started in the days before there were tape recorders as we know them today and video cameras as we know them today and a time in US history when there was no law against wiretapping and bugging. His private investigative practice was opened in 1947 in San Francisco. His book talks about using crimped wire to record audio and huge big and bulky surveillance cameras that made so much noise--the subject of the surveillance could often hear the surveillance camera running in the bushes.

A few years ago, Mr. Lipset has a cover story write up in PI MAGAZINE and has kind'a come to be known as the father of private investigation in of this century. Mr. Lipset had become a legend in his own time for the thousands of cases he had worked, some of them very high profile. He's perhaps best remembered for his invention Of The Bug In The Martini Olive.

THE BUG IN THE MARINI OLIVE

I personally used to talk to Hal on the phone a lot. He was always a great inspiration to me and Hal was quite the talker spilling off this case and that case that he had worked on over the years. I will miss him greatly. Despite his long history and world famous reputation in the private investigative industry, I always found Hal to be just one of the guys and he wanted for himself to be just one of the guys. Hal was often frustrated with the image projection of the private investigator and how the profession is shown by the media and by TV. He once told The Times Newspaper, "It's not all girls, guns, booze and punching out thugs like Mannix! I don't even carry a gun!"

Hal was, of course; known world wide and is a former President of The World Association Of Detectives. The World Association Of Detectives (W.A.D.) gives an award every year called The Hal Lipset "Truth in Action" Award. Here is a descrption of it:

I know that the investigative industry shares the sorrow and the grief of Mr. Lipset's passing that his family is currently undergoing. Mr. Lipset, despite his controversial nature, will be dearly missed by myself and by thousands of private investigators throughout the free world. The Reverend Bill Grahram recently remarked that there is a certain democracy about death--as it doesn't matter who you are nor what you become nor what you do on plant earth--we are all mortal and we all must someday face death. I would ask that investigators worldwide take a moment of silence and prayer for the loss of Mr. Lipset.

Services will be held at:

Temple Sherith Israel
2266 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415-346-1720
Thursday, December 11 at 12:00 Noon (California Time GMT -08:00)

Ralph Thomas, Director
National Association Of Investigative Specialists, Inc.

From The Ralph D. Thomas PI Vintage Collection
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