1968 was the year of the World's Fare and opening of the HemisFare in San Antonio, Texas. Many Texas DPS Officers were called up from various parts of Texas to come and assist with the expected surge of visitors. My dad's brother was one of them. He was called from Ballinger in West Texas to serve on routine patrols. While there answering the call on that October 4th around 6:30, he lost his life.
He lost control of his Patrol vehicle at Breckenridge Park, subsequently crashing through a guard rail into the San Antonio River upside down. He was only 27 years old. His mother had died just 31 days before on September 3rd. My dad never recovered from losing his mother and brother so close together, but it gave him some comfort to give me his brother's name to carry on.
I am very, very proud of who Billy was and to have his name. While I wish he was here, and I could have known him, I honor him and his answer of the call to serve and the life he gave for a city not even his own. Words can't describe how much I would have liked to have know him.
Billy was an incredible man who served as an Abilene policeman before joining Texas DPS. Before that he was in the US Army. While there he served in security at the American Embassy in The Hague. I recently discovered this adjoined news article. I had never seen a lot of the detail. I didn't know all of the circumstances. It certainly leaves you speechless.
Not too long ago we had a praise night at the main pavilion at Breckenridge park where he died. I didn't put all that together at the time. I remember it being such a significant powerful night in worship. We sang "How Great is Our God" acapella for what seemed so long but it was so peaceful. It seemed something special. When I see now the details and the whole story I didn't know, I realize now after looking at the map, that he had died in the river just a few yards from that pavilion.
It is heartbreaking but not without hope. God is paying attention and eye has not seen what God has prepared for those who love Him. There will soon be a great reunion in the sky. It won't be long. We will see the people we lost. We will get to hug some of their necks even for the first time. I know some people don't believe that but heaven will be the greatest family reunion we could ever imagine and it will make up for all the one's we never had.