Claude A. Hicks

Claude A. Hicks, 80, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, September 1, 2012 at a local hospital. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Welcome Center, 1333 N. 3rd St. (the corner of N. 3rd and Hickory St.) A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 5 in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church with Dr. Phil Christopher and Palmer McCown officiating. Graveside services will be private. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Claude was born in Hockley County, Texas on August 2, 1932 to the late Alvis and Ethel Alice (Basham) Hicks. He lived in various West Texas Communities, graduating from Brownfield High School in 1951. After graduating from high school, Claude attended Decatur Baptist College in 1951, transferring in 1953 to Hardin-Simmons University. In 1955, he graduated from Hardin-Simmons University with a B.S. Degree in Education and later received his Master's Degree in Administration from Hardin-Simmons in 1964. From 1955 to 1957, Claude served in the United States Army. During that time, he married Jenny Lind Cargile in Snyder, Texas on February 18, 1956. Hardin-Simmons University has been an integral part of Claude's life. He served on the Board of Trustees, the Board of Development, and the Alumni Board. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award during the 1979 and 1980 school year. In December of 2000, Claude received his Honorary Doctorate Degree from Hardin-Simmons University. Claude was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Abilene, where he served as a Deacon. He also served as director of Abilene Baptist Social Ministries, served on the Salvation Army Board, served as President of the Southwest Children's Home Association, and was a member of the Abilene Military Affairs Committee. Active in Abilene Rotary, Claude served as District Governor for District 5790 in 1976. Claude's career and dedication to children began in 1965, when he became CEO of Hendrick Home for Children. Mr. Hicks loved, influenced, and encouraged hundreds of lives in his thirty years of service at Hendrick Home. Claude was preceded in death by his parents, Alvis and Ethel Hicks and by one sister, Marie Stockard. He is survived by his wife, Jenny L. Hicks of Abilene; two sisters, Alice Scarborough of Abilene, and Louise and husband Kenneth Street of Sherman; one brother-in-law, Joe Cargile and wife Milla Raye of Crosbyton; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. Memorials may be sent in honor of Claude Hicks to Hardin-Simmons University, 2200 Hickory St., Abilene, TX 79698; Hendrick Home for Children, P.O. Box 5195, Abilene, TX 79608; or to Rescue the Animals, 4620 N. 1st St., Abilene, TX 79603.