|
|
| Richard J. "Yankee" Weimmer |
|
 |
|
 RICHARD J. "YANKEE" WEIMMER, age 77, of Livingston, TX, died Thursday, December 19, 2002 at Memorial Medical Center in Livingston, TX. He was born March 13, 1925 in New York, New York, the son of William and Margaret Markovics Weimmer. "Yankee" Weimmer was a Naval Veteran of W.W. II and retired from the Houston Police Department in March 19, 1981, after twenty-three years of service. He was a charter member of the V.F.W. Post #6010 in Houston, TX and a member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Point Blank, TX. He is preceded in death by his father, William Weimmer; his mother Margaret Weimmer; and numerous brothers and sisters. "Yankee" Weimmer is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Fay Weimmer of Onalaska, TX; three sons and daughters-in-law, George and Karen Weimmer of Houston, TX, Richard E. and Linda Weimmer of San Antonio, TX and Eric and Hedy Weimmer of Sugar Land, TX; one daughter, Nina Weimmer of Spring, TX; three granddaughters and their husbands, Samantha and James Bell of Spring, TX, Cassandra and John Moulds of Spring, TX and Erica and Kelly Brown of Sugar Land, TX; two grandsons, Daniel Weimmer of Bryan, TX and Max Weimmer of Houston, TX; four great grandchildren, Clinton Earl Bell, Dakota Marie Bell, Hunter Wayne Bell and Tracey Elizabeth Moulds; and numerous brothers and sisters. A Rosary will be held Sunday, December 22, 2002 at Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston at 6:30 PM. Pallbearers will be the City of Houston Police Department. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM on Monday, December 23, 2002 at Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, TX. Father Joseph K. Kalladan will conduct the services. Burial will be at the Houston National V.A. Cemetery in Houston at 12:45 PM on Monday. Military Honors will be conducted by the V.F.W. Honor Guard Post #6010 and the Honor Guard of the City of Houston Police Department. Cochran Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 12/22/2002. |
Richard 'Yankee' Weimmer, former officer
By S.K. BARDWELL
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
Richard J. "Yankee" Weimmer, a longtime Houston police officer who escorted dignitaries including the Beatles and President John F. Kennedy, died Dec. 19 in Livingston. He was 77.
Although Weimmer had heart trouble and used a pacemaker, he was not ill before his sudden death at his Onalaska home, son Eric Weimmer said.
Weimmer was born March 13, 1925, in New York City, and retained an accent that earned him the nickname "Yankee" here, his son said.
Weimmer served in the Navy during World War II and later came to Houston, where he became a police officer in 1958.
"He loved that work," his son said. "He just wanted to be a beat cop. He never took the (promotional) exams because he was doing what he wanted to do."
Eric Weimmer said his father's size -- 6 feet, 5 inches -- and his expertise resulted in his being assigned to escort most of Houston's visiting dignitaries.
"The Beatles only came to Houston once (in August 1965) and he escorted them," Eric Weimmer said. "He was with President Kennedy the night before he was killed."
Kennedy made a brief stop in Houston on Nov. 21, 1963, before flying to Fort Worth to spend that night. He was assassinated the next day in Dallas.
In the late 1970s, Weimmer did a local radio show for HPD, his son said.
He retired from the police force in 1981, but went back to work as an officer for the Houston Airport Police Department about a year later. He stayed there several years, until the Houston Police Department absorbed the airport police in the late 1980s.
In addition to son Eric, the former officer is survived by his wife of 57 years, Fay; two other sons, George Weimmer of Houston and Richard Weimmer of San Antonio; one daughter, Nina Weimmer of Spring; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A rosary was recited Sunday in Livingston. Services were Monday, with military honors conducted by the HPD Honor Guard and VFW Honor Guard Post 6010. |
