Posted 1:04 am Sunday, December 30, 2012
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Former East Texas pioneers pass away in 2012
Staff Reports
Former Tyler City Council member Les Ratliff, 92, died in October. He was praised by colleagues for having a “serving heart” and for decades of working to improve the community.
Ratliff was a past president of the South Tyler Rotary Club and the East Texas Council of Governments. His tenure on Tyler City Council included a term as mayor pro tem. He helped establish the Smith County 911 Emergency System and served as chairman of the board for 20 years. Mr. Ratliff also helped establish the Tyler Civic Chorale of East Texas and was a member of many local choirs. Other East Texans who died in 2012 include:
Kelly Ireland, Tyler, an attorney who had received Smith County Bar Foundation's Justinian Award for ethics and professionalism.
Dr. Mitchell Willens, Tyler, a founder of Tyler Obstetrics and Gynecology and former president of the Smith County Medical Society.
Marianne Long, Tyler, a founder of Children's Village, a group home for homeless and abused children.
Bobby Uzzell, Tyler, a founder of Tyler Optimist Club.
Charles Ray Inman, Tyler, a member of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame.
Edward Jarvis, Tyler, a founder and the first chief of Chapel Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Stuart Chesley, Tyler, a former president of East Texas Savings and Loan.
Zoe Talbert, Tyler, a patron of the arts who served as the first president of Women's Symphony League of Tyler.
Ralph Byrd, Troup, a founder of the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
Ratliff was a past president of the South Tyler Rotary Club and the East Texas Council of Governments. His tenure on Tyler City Council included a term as mayor pro tem. He helped establish the Smith County 911 Emergency System and served as chairman of the board for 20 years. Mr. Ratliff also helped establish the Tyler Civic Chorale of East Texas and was a member of many local choirs. Other East Texans who died in 2012 include:
Kelly Ireland, Tyler, an attorney who had received Smith County Bar Foundation's Justinian Award for ethics and professionalism.
Dr. Mitchell Willens, Tyler, a founder of Tyler Obstetrics and Gynecology and former president of the Smith County Medical Society.
Marianne Long, Tyler, a founder of Children's Village, a group home for homeless and abused children.
Bobby Uzzell, Tyler, a founder of Tyler Optimist Club.
Charles Ray Inman, Tyler, a member of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame.
Edward Jarvis, Tyler, a founder and the first chief of Chapel Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
Stuart Chesley, Tyler, a former president of East Texas Savings and Loan.
Zoe Talbert, Tyler, a patron of the arts who served as the first president of Women's Symphony League of Tyler.
Ralph Byrd, Troup, a founder of the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
Larry Starr, Tyler, the first judge of Gregg County Court-at-Law and a district judge.
Bill Eckel, Tyler, a former officer of the national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
Helen Campbell, Tyler, one of the first female Realtors in Tyler and a former director of Texas Association of Realtors.
Frances Cowan Gibson, Tyler, community benefactor.
Walter Houston Jr., Tyler, one of the first black police officers on Tyler Police Department.
Hallie Powell, Tyler, a founding member and former board member of Tyler Museum of Art.
James Babe Hallmark, Tyler, a former quarterback at Texas A&M University and head football coach at Tyler Junior College.
David Wendt, Tyler, a past president of Camp Fannin Association who was instrumental in creating the Camp Fannin Memorial.
R.W. Shambach, Tyler, a minister and founder of Shambach Ministries based at Lake Palestine.
Hugh Denson, Tyler, a developer who built many of the buildings in the Green Acres area.
Johnny Stewart, Tyler, a former East Texas Funeral Director of the Year honoree.
Bill Eckel, Tyler, a former officer of the national Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
Helen Campbell, Tyler, one of the first female Realtors in Tyler and a former director of Texas Association of Realtors.
Frances Cowan Gibson, Tyler, community benefactor.
Walter Houston Jr., Tyler, one of the first black police officers on Tyler Police Department.
Hallie Powell, Tyler, a founding member and former board member of Tyler Museum of Art.
James Babe Hallmark, Tyler, a former quarterback at Texas A&M University and head football coach at Tyler Junior College.
David Wendt, Tyler, a past president of Camp Fannin Association who was instrumental in creating the Camp Fannin Memorial.
R.W. Shambach, Tyler, a minister and founder of Shambach Ministries based at Lake Palestine.
Hugh Denson, Tyler, a developer who built many of the buildings in the Green Acres area.
Johnny Stewart, Tyler, a former East Texas Funeral Director of the Year honoree.
