Joseph J. "Semaphore" Dudley, known as Omaha's greatest traffic policeman of all time, died Wednesday afternoon at his home 6133 North 24th Street in Omaha at the age of 66. He had been in poor health some time.

Dudley joined the police force in Omaha in 1908, ultimately became a traffic officer at Sixteenth and Farnam street intersection, left the force in 1923, returned again in 1933, and retired on pension in 1939.

Crowds used to line the sidewalks to watch Dudley at work, and tourists carried his fame across the nation.
Dudley's magnetic whirls permitted no dawdling motorists.
Standing at the center of the intersection, eyes focused on him, Dudley would wind up like Dizzy Dean. Windup completed, his spare arms would shoot out. As if sparks shot from his fingertips he would fairly draw cars toward him by force of will.
With the change of direction Dudley would crouch, his long arms would swoop and snap, they would be swung out in. the other direction. His last appearance at his old post at 16th and Farnum was during the Golden Spike Days of 1939. After that he went back to walking a beat and finally decided to retire.
Surviving are his wife, Adelia, and a brother Jay.

Services will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Crosby-Meyer mortuary with Rev. W.B. Waltmire of Pearl Memorial Methodist Church officiating. Another service will be held Saturday at the Ohde funeral home in Manning, where burial will take place.
Mrs. Dudley is the former Adelia Sievers of Manning.