Roll Call Tribute

(Published in) The Devine News (on) February 6, 2019

Howard R. Hicks

Howard R. Hicks of Devine, Texas passed away peacefully on January 13, 2019 at the age of 89 in the care of his wife of 63 years, Sara L. Hicks. He was attended by his daughter, Dr. Martha O’Reilley and her husband Cabot O’Reilley. Howard is also survived by his daughter Linda Hicks Green and three grandchildren, Sydney Green, Hannah O’Reilley, and Shea O’Reilley.
Howard was born in Ponta, Texas to Rudolph and Dollie Hicks. The family was very poor and times were very hard. Rudolph and Dollie worked as sharecroppers and then, respectively, at Dow Chemical and as a seamstress. In elementary school, Howard worked chopping cotton. Later, he had afterschool jobs as a dishwasher, lawn mower, and janitor at the post office. After he was 14, Howard had only one three-week period of unemployment until he retired. He enrolled in Texas A&M when he was 16 years old and was the youngest person in his graduating class of 1946. The Army then drafted him for service in the Korean War. Having finished his service mostly in Germany, he reenrolled in A&M and earned an engineering degree in 1956. While working for Magnolia Petroleum, he was sent to Odessa, Texas, where he met Sara L. Lynn at the First Baptist Church. Although normally a deliberative man, Howard was engaged and then married in a matter of months. Howard and Sara went to Venezuela for Mobile Oil, leaving after two years when the government nationalized the oil fields. After returning to Texas, Howard encouraged Sara to finish her college degree in accounting. When Kelly Air Force Base hired Howard as a civil engineer, Sara and Howard moved to Devine, Texas, after receiving encouragement to do so by Judge Joe Briscoe, who became a lifelong friend.
The people of Devine were welcoming to the Hicks, stopping by as they moved in to say hello and invite them to church. Through these generous overtures, they became lifelong members of the Devine First Baptist Church. Howard, who was reserved, cherished the Sunday school men’s coffee organized by Judge Briscoe, where he made many friends. Howard and Sara raised their three children, Linda, Martha, and Beth, in Devine in a house largely built by Howard and high school apprentices. He did his own framing, plumbing, and electrical work. He built a fine tree house and a dance studio over his garage so his daughters could take dance lessons.
Howard ranched, bartered, sold, and built anything that needed building. He built an office for Sara’s CPA practice and renovated upwards of 40 houses for resale. Howard built a shelter for his in-laws’ mobile home and reroofed their barn. He also engaged in quiet acts of kindness, such as paying for a prosthetic arm for one his workers, and for dental work for one of his daughter’s classmates. He loved the wisdom of Aesop’s fables, which he imparted to his daughters, and math, which he could not impart to his daughters.
After retirement from Kelly, he and Sara traveled widely, both on cruises and in their motor home. He was thrifty, intelligent, and loyal. He was a man of his word and expected the same of others. He had a dry sense of humor and a surprisingly good singing voice. His family and friends will miss him.
Howard is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas Hicks; and his much-missed daughter, Beth.
Howard donated his body to the University of Texas Medical School, so there will not be a funeral. A memorial service is planned for February 16, 2019, at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, Devine, Texas.