Zeke, a high school drop out, undistinguished veteran, and reformed alcoholic, almost accidentally becomes the elected police chief of a northeastern Oklahoma collage town in the 1960's. There he has a surprisingly successful term in office, dealing with public demonstrations, arresting burglars, overcoming prominent adversaries, and solving murders.Zeke's personal life does not run smoothly. His wife starts going to church, and the two of them are converted, only to learn that the preacher is a pornography addict. He starts to collage only to witness a collage student on drugs commit suicide. He and Flo lose their only son, first to drugs, then to the Tet Offensive in Vietnam.However in spite of personal challenges, Zeke earns a collage degree. And eventually he exposes, and brings about the destruction of "Trinity," a criminal organization which controls the drug trade. His exploits are publicized state wide, with the result that he is recruited to run for governor. But his corrupt opponent, financed by the Chicago mob, forces him from the race. he ultimately brings the mob boss to justice, and ends up teaching in elementary school --- the job he decides he was meant to do.