Major Russell "Russ" Paul Lecklider, Jr. USAF (ret), beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Monday, November 25, 2019... [on his 74th birthday] in Buda, Texas. Russ was born in Miami, Florida on November 25, 1945 to Russell P. Lecklider of Toledo, Ohio and Sara L. Lecklider of Cave Spring, Georgia. Growing up in a Navy family, Russ was raised in San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Brunswick, Georgia. He graduated from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Georgia in 1963 where he met his future wife Kari.
Russ attended the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he was an ROTC member and served as the residence hall manager for Steeb Hall. He graduated with a BA in International Studies and a MS in Political Science. In 1968 Russ and Kari were married in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and in 1970 Russ was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served a 20-year career as an intelligence officer. In his first assignment he deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam where he served as an Air Intelligence Officer supporting combat operations.
Assignments followed in South Carolina, Virginia, and a family accompanied tour in Seoul, South Korea. He earned an additional MS degree from the University of Southern California in Systems Management as well as graduating from the National Defense University. In 1980 the family moved to Austin, Texas where Russ was stationed at Bergstrom AFB and developed a love for Central Texas. In 1984, the family moved to Washington DC where Russ served as the Chief of the Warfare Analysis Branch for the Air Force Intelligence Service. After a one-year unaccompanied tour at Osan Air Base, Korea, where he served as a Director of Targeting for the ROK/US Air Component Command, the family returned to Bergstrom AFB and the Austin area in 1988, settling in Buda, Texas.
Following his retirement from the Air Force as a Major in 1990, Russ went on to have a 20-year career with the State of Texas in the field of Emergency Management. Starting out as an Emergency Resources Planning Officer in 1990, Russ held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety including Supervisor of Population Protection Planning, Supervisor of Local Planning Support, Technical Hazards Coordinator, and Assistant State Coordinator for Preparedness. Russ was instrumental in State of Texas disaster planning including developing the state plans as well as assisting local Texas city and counties in plan development, implementing emergency management training for state and local officials, responding to numerous state disasters including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, and increasing coordination and mutual support with other states. In 2007 Russ was selected as the first Assistant Chief of the Texas Emergency Management Division for the state of Texas, a position he held until his retirement in 2010 where he played a critical role in obtaining federal emergency management assistance for Texas including reimbursement and grants while assisting in helping grow the Division.
Russ was patriot and dedicated public servant. He was a caring leader and mentor to many in the emergency management community as well as a gifted presenter and communicator. He taught government classes overseas for the University of Maryland and throughout his military and state career he was asked to present at various military and emergency management conferences across the U.S. and as far away as Japan and Korea. He had a keen intellect, was a master writer, editor, organizer and had a remarkable work ethic. He was genuinely happy in his work and was a gifted problem solver. He put his organizing talent to use as member of the Bishops Committee of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Buda where he was instrumental in helping get a new sanctuary built after the original was destroyed by fire.
Retirement found Russ using his planning talent to layout trips he and Kari would enjoy together. Their favorites were visits to Scotland, Yellowstone and Ireland. A man of simple pleasures, Russ loved family gatherings, a good meal, a great book and a cold glass of iced tea. He was an avid reader, vegetable and fruit tree gardener, fan of marching bands, folk music, Shetland Sheepdogs, canoeing, sailing, and football. He was a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and spent many fall Saturday afternoons attending Texas A&M football games with his family, cheering on his adopted Texas Aggies, where he was known to wipe away a tear or two after the national anthem and the Aggie Band half-time performance. Pops will be greatly missed by his family.
Russ was preceded in death by his father Russell P. Lecklider, Sr. CDR USN Ret. He is survived by his wife Kari B. Lecklider, of Buda, son Evan A. Lecklider and wife Jeannie as well as granddaughters Deborah and Karen, of Buda, Texas. He is also survived by his mother Sara Lucile Lecklider of Evansville, Indiana, his sisters Nancy Adelman (Herb) of Del Mar, California, Kathy Stein (Stuart) of Santa Ana, California, and brothers Neal Lecklider (Nancy) of Evansville, Indiana, and John Lecklider (Carol), of Rushville, Indiana as well as numerous wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will have a graveside inurnment of Russ's ashes with Military Honors at a later date at the family plot in the San Marcos City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or the charity of your choice.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN 12 February 2020
Russ attended the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he was an ROTC member and served as the residence hall manager for Steeb Hall. He graduated with a BA in International Studies and a MS in Political Science. In 1968 Russ and Kari were married in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and in 1970 Russ was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served a 20-year career as an intelligence officer. In his first assignment he deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam where he served as an Air Intelligence Officer supporting combat operations.
Assignments followed in South Carolina, Virginia, and a family accompanied tour in Seoul, South Korea. He earned an additional MS degree from the University of Southern California in Systems Management as well as graduating from the National Defense University. In 1980 the family moved to Austin, Texas where Russ was stationed at Bergstrom AFB and developed a love for Central Texas. In 1984, the family moved to Washington DC where Russ served as the Chief of the Warfare Analysis Branch for the Air Force Intelligence Service. After a one-year unaccompanied tour at Osan Air Base, Korea, where he served as a Director of Targeting for the ROK/US Air Component Command, the family returned to Bergstrom AFB and the Austin area in 1988, settling in Buda, Texas.
Following his retirement from the Air Force as a Major in 1990, Russ went on to have a 20-year career with the State of Texas in the field of Emergency Management. Starting out as an Emergency Resources Planning Officer in 1990, Russ held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety including Supervisor of Population Protection Planning, Supervisor of Local Planning Support, Technical Hazards Coordinator, and Assistant State Coordinator for Preparedness. Russ was instrumental in State of Texas disaster planning including developing the state plans as well as assisting local Texas city and counties in plan development, implementing emergency management training for state and local officials, responding to numerous state disasters including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, and increasing coordination and mutual support with other states. In 2007 Russ was selected as the first Assistant Chief of the Texas Emergency Management Division for the state of Texas, a position he held until his retirement in 2010 where he played a critical role in obtaining federal emergency management assistance for Texas including reimbursement and grants while assisting in helping grow the Division.
Russ was patriot and dedicated public servant. He was a caring leader and mentor to many in the emergency management community as well as a gifted presenter and communicator. He taught government classes overseas for the University of Maryland and throughout his military and state career he was asked to present at various military and emergency management conferences across the U.S. and as far away as Japan and Korea. He had a keen intellect, was a master writer, editor, organizer and had a remarkable work ethic. He was genuinely happy in his work and was a gifted problem solver. He put his organizing talent to use as member of the Bishops Committee of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Buda where he was instrumental in helping get a new sanctuary built after the original was destroyed by fire.
Retirement found Russ using his planning talent to layout trips he and Kari would enjoy together. Their favorites were visits to Scotland, Yellowstone and Ireland. A man of simple pleasures, Russ loved family gatherings, a good meal, a great book and a cold glass of iced tea. He was an avid reader, vegetable and fruit tree gardener, fan of marching bands, folk music, Shetland Sheepdogs, canoeing, sailing, and football. He was a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and spent many fall Saturday afternoons attending Texas A&M football games with his family, cheering on his adopted Texas Aggies, where he was known to wipe away a tear or two after the national anthem and the Aggie Band half-time performance. Pops will be greatly missed by his family.
Russ was preceded in death by his father Russell P. Lecklider, Sr. CDR USN Ret. He is survived by his wife Kari B. Lecklider, of Buda, son Evan A. Lecklider and wife Jeannie as well as granddaughters Deborah and Karen, of Buda, Texas. He is also survived by his mother Sara Lucile Lecklider of Evansville, Indiana, his sisters Nancy Adelman (Herb) of Del Mar, California, Kathy Stein (Stuart) of Santa Ana, California, and brothers Neal Lecklider (Nancy) of Evansville, Indiana, and John Lecklider (Carol), of Rushville, Indiana as well as numerous wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will have a graveside inurnment of Russ's ashes with Military Honors at a later date at the family plot in the San Marcos City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or the charity of your choice.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN 12 February 2020
Major Russell "Russ" Paul Lecklider, Jr. USAF (ret), beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Monday, November 25, 2019... [on his 74th birthday] in Buda, Texas. Russ was born in Miami, Florida on November 25, 1945 to Russell P. Lecklider of Toledo, Ohio and Sara L. Lecklider of Cave Spring, Georgia. Growing up in a Navy family, Russ was raised in San Diego, California; Norfolk, Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Brunswick, Georgia. He graduated from Glynn Academy in Brunswick, Georgia in 1963 where he met his future wife Kari.
Russ attended the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he was an ROTC member and served as the residence hall manager for Steeb Hall. He graduated with a BA in International Studies and a MS in Political Science. In 1968 Russ and Kari were married in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and in 1970 Russ was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served a 20-year career as an intelligence officer. In his first assignment he deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam where he served as an Air Intelligence Officer supporting combat operations.
Assignments followed in South Carolina, Virginia, and a family accompanied tour in Seoul, South Korea. He earned an additional MS degree from the University of Southern California in Systems Management as well as graduating from the National Defense University. In 1980 the family moved to Austin, Texas where Russ was stationed at Bergstrom AFB and developed a love for Central Texas. In 1984, the family moved to Washington DC where Russ served as the Chief of the Warfare Analysis Branch for the Air Force Intelligence Service. After a one-year unaccompanied tour at Osan Air Base, Korea, where he served as a Director of Targeting for the ROK/US Air Component Command, the family returned to Bergstrom AFB and the Austin area in 1988, settling in Buda, Texas.
Following his retirement from the Air Force as a Major in 1990, Russ went on to have a 20-year career with the State of Texas in the field of Emergency Management. Starting out as an Emergency Resources Planning Officer in 1990, Russ held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety including Supervisor of Population Protection Planning, Supervisor of Local Planning Support, Technical Hazards Coordinator, and Assistant State Coordinator for Preparedness. Russ was instrumental in State of Texas disaster planning including developing the state plans as well as assisting local Texas city and counties in plan development, implementing emergency management training for state and local officials, responding to numerous state disasters including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, and increasing coordination and mutual support with other states. In 2007 Russ was selected as the first Assistant Chief of the Texas Emergency Management Division for the state of Texas, a position he held until his retirement in 2010 where he played a critical role in obtaining federal emergency management assistance for Texas including reimbursement and grants while assisting in helping grow the Division.
Russ was patriot and dedicated public servant. He was a caring leader and mentor to many in the emergency management community as well as a gifted presenter and communicator. He taught government classes overseas for the University of Maryland and throughout his military and state career he was asked to present at various military and emergency management conferences across the U.S. and as far away as Japan and Korea. He had a keen intellect, was a master writer, editor, organizer and had a remarkable work ethic. He was genuinely happy in his work and was a gifted problem solver. He put his organizing talent to use as member of the Bishops Committee of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Buda where he was instrumental in helping get a new sanctuary built after the original was destroyed by fire.
Retirement found Russ using his planning talent to layout trips he and Kari would enjoy together. Their favorites were visits to Scotland, Yellowstone and Ireland. A man of simple pleasures, Russ loved family gatherings, a good meal, a great book and a cold glass of iced tea. He was an avid reader, vegetable and fruit tree gardener, fan of marching bands, folk music, Shetland Sheepdogs, canoeing, sailing, and football. He was a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and spent many fall Saturday afternoons attending Texas A&M football games with his family, cheering on his adopted Texas Aggies, where he was known to wipe away a tear or two after the national anthem and the Aggie Band half-time performance. Pops will be greatly missed by his family.
Russ was preceded in death by his father Russell P. Lecklider, Sr. CDR USN Ret. He is survived by his wife Kari B. Lecklider, of Buda, son Evan A. Lecklider and wife Jeannie as well as granddaughters Deborah and Karen, of Buda, Texas. He is also survived by his mother Sara Lucile Lecklider of Evansville, Indiana, his sisters Nancy Adelman (Herb) of Del Mar, California, Kathy Stein (Stuart) of Santa Ana, California, and brothers Neal Lecklider (Nancy) of Evansville, Indiana, and John Lecklider (Carol), of Rushville, Indiana as well as numerous wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will have a graveside inurnment of Russ's ashes with Military Honors at a later date at the family plot in the San Marcos City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or the charity of your choice.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN 12 February 2020
Russ attended the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he was an ROTC member and served as the residence hall manager for Steeb Hall. He graduated with a BA in International Studies and a MS in Political Science. In 1968 Russ and Kari were married in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and in 1970 Russ was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served a 20-year career as an intelligence officer. In his first assignment he deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam where he served as an Air Intelligence Officer supporting combat operations.
Assignments followed in South Carolina, Virginia, and a family accompanied tour in Seoul, South Korea. He earned an additional MS degree from the University of Southern California in Systems Management as well as graduating from the National Defense University. In 1980 the family moved to Austin, Texas where Russ was stationed at Bergstrom AFB and developed a love for Central Texas. In 1984, the family moved to Washington DC where Russ served as the Chief of the Warfare Analysis Branch for the Air Force Intelligence Service. After a one-year unaccompanied tour at Osan Air Base, Korea, where he served as a Director of Targeting for the ROK/US Air Component Command, the family returned to Bergstrom AFB and the Austin area in 1988, settling in Buda, Texas.
Following his retirement from the Air Force as a Major in 1990, Russ went on to have a 20-year career with the State of Texas in the field of Emergency Management. Starting out as an Emergency Resources Planning Officer in 1990, Russ held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety including Supervisor of Population Protection Planning, Supervisor of Local Planning Support, Technical Hazards Coordinator, and Assistant State Coordinator for Preparedness. Russ was instrumental in State of Texas disaster planning including developing the state plans as well as assisting local Texas city and counties in plan development, implementing emergency management training for state and local officials, responding to numerous state disasters including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, and increasing coordination and mutual support with other states. In 2007 Russ was selected as the first Assistant Chief of the Texas Emergency Management Division for the state of Texas, a position he held until his retirement in 2010 where he played a critical role in obtaining federal emergency management assistance for Texas including reimbursement and grants while assisting in helping grow the Division.
Russ was patriot and dedicated public servant. He was a caring leader and mentor to many in the emergency management community as well as a gifted presenter and communicator. He taught government classes overseas for the University of Maryland and throughout his military and state career he was asked to present at various military and emergency management conferences across the U.S. and as far away as Japan and Korea. He had a keen intellect, was a master writer, editor, organizer and had a remarkable work ethic. He was genuinely happy in his work and was a gifted problem solver. He put his organizing talent to use as member of the Bishops Committee of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Buda where he was instrumental in helping get a new sanctuary built after the original was destroyed by fire.
Retirement found Russ using his planning talent to layout trips he and Kari would enjoy together. Their favorites were visits to Scotland, Yellowstone and Ireland. A man of simple pleasures, Russ loved family gatherings, a good meal, a great book and a cold glass of iced tea. He was an avid reader, vegetable and fruit tree gardener, fan of marching bands, folk music, Shetland Sheepdogs, canoeing, sailing, and football. He was a huge fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes and spent many fall Saturday afternoons attending Texas A&M football games with his family, cheering on his adopted Texas Aggies, where he was known to wipe away a tear or two after the national anthem and the Aggie Band half-time performance. Pops will be greatly missed by his family.
Russ was preceded in death by his father Russell P. Lecklider, Sr. CDR USN Ret. He is survived by his wife Kari B. Lecklider, of Buda, son Evan A. Lecklider and wife Jeannie as well as granddaughters Deborah and Karen, of Buda, Texas. He is also survived by his mother Sara Lucile Lecklider of Evansville, Indiana, his sisters Nancy Adelman (Herb) of Del Mar, California, Kathy Stein (Stuart) of Santa Ana, California, and brothers Neal Lecklider (Nancy) of Evansville, Indiana, and John Lecklider (Carol), of Rushville, Indiana as well as numerous wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will have a graveside inurnment of Russ's ashes with Military Honors at a later date at the family plot in the San Marcos City Cemetery, San Marcos, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation or the charity of your choice.
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN 12 February 2020
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