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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of a respected public servant, |
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entrepreneur, and family man drew to a close with the passing of |
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E. C. Locklear on March 2, 2013, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, E. C. Locklear was |
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born to Dewey and Sarah Locklear on April 4, 1925; he grew up in Arp, |
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Texas, and met his future wife, Hazel Nina Hune, when both were |
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still children; they were married in 1943, shortly before he |
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entered the United States Army; he served in the |
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European-African-Middle Eastern theater during World War II and |
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then took part in the occupation of Japan as part of the 24th |
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Infantry Division; while stationed in Japan, he played tackle for |
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his division's football team and was named an all-star for his |
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outstanding performance; after returning to the United States, he |
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was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and ably served |
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his nation in that conflict; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Locklear went on to pursue a career in law |
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enforcement and graduated from Texas Highway Patrol Training School |
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in 1954; assigned to a duty station in Kermit, he patrolled about |
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500 miles of state and county roads in Winkler and Loving Counties, |
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often as the only highway patrol officer in the area; he earned his |
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scuba diving certification in order to assist with search and |
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rescue missions and later patrolled the roads around Fort Stockton; |
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a prominent figure in the region, he was known for his trademark |
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sunglasses and cigar, and he earned a reputation as a tough but fair |
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officer of the law; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring from the Texas Department of Public |
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Safety, Mr. Locklear was twice elected as county judge in Winkler |
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County, serving for a total of eight years; he moved to Del Rio in |
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1979 and operated Fisherman's Headquarters, and he made many |
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friends among anglers and local fishing guides; in the later years |
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of his life, he divided his time between Del Rio and his property in |
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the Davis Mountains, an area he dearly loved for its beauty and |
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tranquility as well as for the fellowship he enjoyed at Davis |
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Mountain Community Church; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Locklear was supported |
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by a loving family, which included his wife, Hazel, and his |
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daughters, Nina and Susan; and |
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WHEREAS, E. C. Locklear possessed a strength of character |
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and a generosity of spirit that won him the admiration of many |
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people, and he is deeply missed by all those whose lives were |
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enriched by his love and friendship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of E. C. Locklear and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, |
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Hazel Locklear; to his daughters, Nina Earles and her husband, |
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Leon, and Susan Meek; to his grandchildren, Donita Bowden and her |
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husband, Thomas, Brian Earles and his wife, Kameron, and Patrick |
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Earles and his wife, Caroline; to his great-grandchildren, Cheyenne |
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Jordan and Annaka Earles; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of |
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E. C. Locklear. |