Richard E. "Dick" Culbertson, former long-time Sheriff of Jefferson County, passed away at the age of 87, Saturday, May 12, 2012, after a short illness.
Dick Culbertson was born in Tyler, Texas on July 31, 1924, the youngest of five boys. Raised by his single mom, Mae Culbertson, during the Great Depression, Dick developed his work ethic very early in life, assisting his older brother with a paper route when he was only 5 years old. America entered World War II and after graduation from Tyler High School, Dick joined the United States Army and fought and was wounded in the Philippines. After proudly serving his country, he returned home and on October 18, 1946, he happily married his sweetheart Sara Jo Ellis Culbertson. They recently celebrated sixty-six years of marriage.
Jobs were scarce after the war and returning veteran Dick hunted for work. He read an advertisement in his local Tyler newspaper for job openings with the Texas Department of Public Safety and he promptly applied for one of the thirty highway patrol positions available. Dick later said that he entered law enforcement "because I was hungry." His career as a Texas Highway Patrolman lasted from 1947 to 1959, beginning in Houston and ending in the Beaumont District. By then, Dick and Jo's family had grown with the birth of their children; daughter, Pat and son, Rick.
Dick resigned from the Department of Public Safety rather than accept a move that would uproot his young family from their Beaumont home. He took a job as a safety engineer at Neches Butane in Mid-County.
Family again played an important role in 1961 when the James Commission Investigating Vice in Jefferson County asked Dick to accept a court appointment as Acting Sheriff of the county. He decided to accept the position of reform sheriff because he "didn't want his children to grow up under the conditions that existed before the House Investigating Committee came in 1961." He walked into a controversial office to carry out the court's order for good and honest law enforcement in Jefferson County. Dick served proudly as Sheriff from July 1962 to 1988. He took a little Sheriff's Department that was in trouble and built it into one of the best departments in the state. Dick was a man of integrity and honesty who helped make the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department a source of pride for the entire community.
Over a career in law enforcement that spanned thirty-five years, Dick Culbertson received numerous awards and recognition for his professionalism and dedication to his job. He served as president of the Sheriff's Association of Texas and Chairman of the Regional Police Academy and of the Southeast Texas Regional Law Enforcement Council. Dick and Jo were both active in a number of civic organizations including the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Young Men Business League, the Beaumont Jaycees, the Lions Club, and the Gulf Coast Rod and Reel Club.
Dick enjoyed golfing, hunting, and fishing, and he and his family spent many happy hours at their beach cabin at Crystal Beach. Dick had the most beautiful lawn in their beach neighborhood and was even known to regularly mow his neighbors' yards.
Dick is survived by his loving wife, Sara Jo Culbertson; children, Patricia Culbertson, Rick Culbertson and his wife, Donna, and their sons, Ian and Andrew Culbertson. The boys are especially proud of their "Pop" and will greatly miss him.
The Culbertson family would like to extend special thanks to all the caring health professionals who took such great care of our Pop. Thanks to Atria Collier Park, St. Elizabeth Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center, and Harbor Hospice of Beaumont.
It's been said that the men and women who served in World War II were America's "greatest generation." Our Pop certainly epitomized this greatness. He lived his life with honor and dignity and faced challenges courageously. His passing leaves us all sad - but so proud that he was ours.
A gathering of Mr. Culbertson’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 14, 2012, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Avenue, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701; Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726; or to Harbor Hospice, 2450 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713.
