VICK DOUGLAS ATWOOD Go San Angelo <www.gosanangelo.com> September 15, 2008 SAN ANGELO - Vick Atwood, Big Lake, was peacefully called to Heaven on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; grandson John Carroll; and siblings Harvey, Evans, Dudley, Wilson, Woodrow, Clara, and Bessie. Vick is survived by his son, David B. Atwood and wife Becki of Concrete, Wash.; daughter Robbie Atwood-White and husband Robert of Richardson, Texas; one sister, Effie May Bilbrey of San Angelo; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. Vick was born in Paint Rock, Texas, to Annis and Thomas Jefferson Atwood. He was the youngest of nine children and spoiled by his three older sisters. In 1947, he completed the Texas Department of Public Safety Patrol School with his first assignment station being in Brownfield, Texas. In 1952, he transferred to Big Lake. On Oct. 29, 1952, Vick married Helen Marie Norwood Atwood and they made their home in Big Lake. Vick retired from the Texas Highway Patrol on Dec. 31, 1979. He was elected as the sheriff of Reagan County from Jan. 1, 1981, to Dec. 31, 1984. On May 29, 1985, he was sworn in by U.S. Marshall Clint Peoples as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshall. With his Department of Public Safety retirement approaching, the following article appeared in the Big Lake Wildcat in December 1979: "Vick Atwood, local trooper with the Department of Public Safety and the scourge of any highway traffic violators, spent his last day on the job, Tuesday, December 11, 1979. Atwood will be re! tiring from active duty with the Texas DPS with 32 years service to the people of Texas. Vick Atwood entered DPS Patrol School on December 1, 1947. Prior to that he had been a student at the University of Texas and spent four years in the Air Force prior to his studies. His first duty assignment was Brownfield, Texas in March of 1948 and he stayed there for four years. He spent short periods of duty in Johnson City and Sonora before coming to Big Lake on April 1, 1952. "In Big Lake, he took cases before five county judges: Taylor, Hudson, Stout, Mills, and Sandel. "His first car as a trooper was a 1946 Ford. He said that the fasted speeds were driven in the sixties when auto dealers came out with the muscle super cars that a lot of people modified for speed. "A few of them out ran me, but not that many." The fasted speed he remembers clocking anyone was at 123 MPH." Vick was extremely proud to be a member of the Big Lake Lion's Club, American Legion-Roy Rose Post, Masons, a! nd the First Baptist Church. Quite A Hero, Author Unknown My Hero is the quiet type, No marching bands, no media hype, But through my eyes it's plain to see, A hero, God has sent to me. With gentle strength and quiet pride, All self concern is set aside, To reach out to our fellow man, And be there with a helping hand. Heroes are a rarity, A blessing to humanity. With all they give and all they do, I'll bet the thing you never knew, My quiet hero has always been you, Dad. Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the First Baptist Church of Big Lake, Texas. Burial will follow in Glen Rest Cemetery. Family and friends may sign an online memorial at www.mem.com. Johnson's Funeral Home