Leon Herman Adickes

Notes:

Sunday, March 3, has been designated as "Leon Adickes Day" in Hemphill in recognition of his dedication of many years of dedication and service to the community, Mayor Robert Hamilton states in making the proclamation. Hamilton adds that Adickes has been an integral part of the growth and development of the City of Hemphill as a businessman and leader in the community. A reception honoring Adickes on this special day will be held Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church in Hemphill. Adickes is seated at left besides Mayor Hamilton as he signed the proclamation this week. Standing and looking on from the left include Jerry Cowgill, a friend and fellow Hemphill Lions Club member; Stephen Crowell, grandson; and Lee M. Dutton Jr., the city's mayor pro-tem. (The Sabine County Reporter Wednesday, February 27, 2002)

Obituary

Leon Herman Adickes, 87, of Hemphill, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005. He was born Aug. 12, 1916 in Mission Valley, a son of the late Frederick and Antonette ADICKES. He grew up on a farm where they raised cattle. His father was a butcher and young Leon learned to drive and sell beef in the local community. He discovered that his hands did not fit a hoe very well and (that he) would rather pursue a diffferent career. He left the farm to attned high school in Victoria and graduated in 1933. Leon attended Victoria Junior College, where he graduated as the top ranking male student. He lacked the money to attend the University of Texas, therefore he taught school for three years in a one room country school. He (then was able to) attend U.T. and graduated in June 1939 with a major in Mathematics and Physics. He earned a Phi Beta Kappa key. After graduation he accepted a job managing a seismic field crew from 1939-1943. He loved his job, which allowed him to travel...which he continued throughout his life....(including) Europe, South America, Hawaii and Alaska and 46 other states.

He married a local Sabine County girl, Pansy FULLER in 1941. They traveled for several years with the seismic job (until) Pansy's father, Jim FULLER became ill and needed their help running the family business, Hemphill Drug. The couple moved to Hemphill in 1943, where they owned and operated the business until 1976. (Civic work includes) 15 terms on the Hemphill City Council, volunteer fireman for 25 years, Sabine County Hospital board which intially did not have enough money to buy a postage stamps but eventually achieved the goald of a first class hospital for Sabine County, and Hemphill Lions Club (charter member-officer-Texas Lions Hall of Fame). He also built two nursing homes, a radio station, Twitty's restaurant, Toledo Self Storage, and a hotel.

Survived by his wife, Pansy, sister Alice HAGEN of Boulder City, Nevada; daughters Ann USSERY of Henderson and Sharon CROWELL of Hemphill; grandchildren, Stephen CROWELL, Darren CROWELL, Shannon CROWELL; Karen HAIRSTON, and Melissa GILLIS; and great-grandchildren, Jeffrey CROWELL, Madison CROWELL, Alanna CROWELL, Jacob CROWELL, Nickolas HAIRSTON, and Tyler and Tanner GILLIS. Starr Funeral Home with interment in Hemphill Cemetery on March 26, 2005. Pastor Sherry CRENSHAW and Pastor Farrar BENTLEY.

(The Sabine County Reporter, Wednesday, March 30, 2005, page 12, transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

Also in the same newspaper, In his May 17, 2006 "All Things Historical" column, Bob Bowman also fondly remembers Leon, saying he first met him as a second grade student at Hemphill in 1943. Leon was running the Hemphill Drug Store at the time. When Bob walked home from school in Hemphill to the sawmill community of East Mayfield, he would detour through the drugstore to read the comic books on display, buying a few occasionally but mostly reading without charge or rebuke. One Saturday afternoon a bully swiped his hat outside of the Hemphill movie theatre. Leon, who observed the crime, took Bob to the store, where he outfitted him with a replacement, again at no charge. Bob supposed he realized that he came from a poor sawmill family. He also speculated that he gave his family medicine from time to time when they ran out of funds. As an adult, Bob and Leon renewed their acquaintanceship, at which time Leon shared unique morsels of East Texas, such as ghost towns, outlaw crimes, good ol' boy expressions, home remedies and other stories.

Leon married Pansy Margueritte Fuller on 5 Oct 1941. Pansy (daughter of James Deweese Fuller and Willie Arthur Mason) was born on 20 Mar 1914 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; died on 24 Aug 2006 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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