Joe H. Newcomer

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, some folks leave a mark on one town, maybe two if they're restless. Joe H.

Newcomer apparently looked at that idea and decided it wasn't nearly ambitious enough. The man stacked up titles the way some people stack firewood, and brother, he stacked a lot of firewood. Special Texas Ranger.

Deputy Sheriff. Justice of the Peace, all in Bandera County. Before you catch your breath, he also served as alderman over in Uvalde, county clerk, and chief of police.

That's not a resume, that's a small government all by itself. And somewhere in the middle of all that, there was a World War II chapter, where Newcomer served as a shipboard security officer for a chemical company. Out on the water, keeping watch, which tells you the man wasn't just comfortable with responsibility, he went looking for it.

Back on Texas soil, he didn't slow down one bit. He became a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He rose to president of the Texas Chapter of the F.B.I.

National Academy Associates. And if that weren't enough, he was a founder and president of the Southwest Texas Peace Officers Association. A founder.

He didn't just join the table, he helped build it. Joe H. Newcomer was married first to Mary Etta McCain, and second to Avis W.

Adcock. The marker was recorded in 1968. Some men spend a lifetime searching for their calling.

Joe Newcomer found his, and then apparently found several more just to stay busy.

What the marker says

Special Texas Ranger, Deputy Sheriff, Justice of Peace, Bandera County. World War II shipboard security officer for chemical company. Also Uvalde alderman, county clerk, chief of police. Member Internationl Association of Chiefs of Police. President Texas Chapter, F.B.I. National Academy Associates. A founder and president Southwest Texas Peace Officers Association. Married first Mary Etta McCain; second, Avis W. Adcock. Recorded, 1968.