The Collin County Observer™

McKinney Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

October 6, 2010
Adapted for Web by Tracy DeLatte

An American soldier with North Texas ties was killed recently while on foot patrol in Afghanistan.

Pfc. Cody Board was with two other soldiers when an explosive device went off. The two other soldiers survived, according to the Department of Defense.

Friends said the 20-year-old was a McKinney native who joined the Army after graduating from McKinney North High School in May 2009.

His parents have since traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for a special ceremony.

There will also be a candlelight vigil for him around the MNHS flag pole at 8 p.m. on Friday night. The school's football players will wear stickers with his initials during their game.

link to this article at myFOXdfw.com....

The Collin County Observer has learned that Bill Boyd, managing partner of Boyd•Veigel and probably the most well known attorney in Collin County history, died this morning of an apparent heart attack.

Friends of Boyd told the Observer that he was exercising on a treadmill at a local fitness center when he collapsed.

Bill Boyd was born in McKinney on August 8, 1938. He received his B.A. in 1960 (economics major, with honors) and L.L.B. in 1963 from Southern Methodist University. Bill was a member of Phi Delta Phi. He was on the SMU Moot Court Team which won the State Bar Competition and competed in the National Moot Court Competition. He served on the Board of Editors of the Southwestern Law Journal. He was admitted to the State Bar in 1963.

Bill Boyd, a life-long Democrat, was elected District Attorney of Collin County his first year out of law school and served a four-year term. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the National District Attorney's Association from Texas and served as a director until the end of his term as District Attorney.

Bill's father was Speaker Sam Rayburn's campaign manager as well as supporter and friend of Lyndon Johnson throughout his career. Bill was a life long friend of Lady Bird Johnson and many other well known state and national politicians.

Boyd joined his father, Roland Boyd in private law practice in 1969 and, immediately after leaving the District Attorney's Office, he was employed to represent Charles Watson, the member of the Manson family who was charged with the Sharon Tate murders. He represented Charles in his extradition fight from Texas to California and took the case to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Watson was only the first of many high profile clients Bill Boyd represented in his 40 year career.

He successfully represented a former Lieutenant Governor in a civil suit in federal court in New York. He successfully represented a former Attorney General and his family in a civil suit in Dallas concerning a business transaction. He has represented a number of public officials in federal and state criminal investigations including the Chief of Police of Dallas, Mack Vines, who was indicted and acquitted for perjury.

Recently, Boyd represented former Judge Verla Sue Holland in her attempt to avoid giving a deposition about her affair with former DA Tom O'Connell.

I had several opportunities to talk with Mr. Boyd during my campaign and later for research for the Observer. It was impossible to meet him and not be impressed with his intellectual dexterity and his breadth of knowledge of politics, politicians and the law.

I will post details of any services as soon as they become available.

Bill

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Update August 30:

From the Dallas Morning News - Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Barbara White Boyd; his sons, William Bradley Boyd and Blake Edward Boyd; his sister, Betty Skelton; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Boyd.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of McKinney, 1615 W. Louisiana St.

Former Plano City Councilman Richard Bode died on May 1 after a long battle with cancer.

Mr. Bode served on the Plano City Council from 1990 to 2000, and was Mayor Pro Tem from 1996 to 2000. He was very involved in the Plano community, serving on the Leadership Committee of the John Paul, II, High School in Plano (2000-20030, Plano women's shelter Hope's Door (2000-2009) and the Collin County Adult Clinic in Plano.

I am told by one of his friends that just a few days before he died, he performed one more service to the community when he mailed in his absentee ballot.

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, May 4, at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, located at 1914 Ridgeview Drive, in Allen, with a reception to follow. His ashes will be interred at the Columbarium at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Plano at a later date.

More information can be found in the obituary published in today's Dallas Morning News.

Bill

The Collin County Observer has learned that Plano native and long time attorney Homer Reynolds III died Sunday night of an apparent heart attack.

Mr. Reynolds was a partner in the firm of Siebman, Reynolds, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP. He has served on the boards of several local corporations and charities, including the board of Presbyterian Healthcare System, Inc.

Mr. Reynolds has led in several recent high profile cases. He was Collin County Auditor Don Cozad's attorney in Cozad's legal battles with the county commissioners court, and he represented the Plano's Heritage Farmstead Museum board after it became apparent that its recently deceased Executive Director had embezzelled over $150,000 from the organization.

Homer Reynolds was a 1980 graduate of Plano Senior High School. In 1984, he graduated from SMU, Magna Cum Laude with a dual major in history and political science and he earned his J.D. from the SMU School of Law in 1987.

Update April 7:
From the texasjudge.com website.

We are shocked and saddened to learn that attorney Homer Reynolds passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2009. He was one of Collin County's finest attorneys; intelligent, hardworking and respected. It was Homer's wish that there not be a funeral or memorial service.

http://texasjudge.com/

Update April 19:
A reader comments:

By now, many of you may already know about the upcoming memorial service planned to celebrate Homer's life. If not, please join Homer's family and extended family of friends this coming Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Plano to reminisce and wish Homer eternal peace.

Former Collin County Clerk dies

Staff reports / The McKinney Courier-Gazette
Sunday, March 29, 2009

Mrs. Helen Starnes, age 83, of McKinney passed away March 28 in Frisco. She was born on June 17, 1925, in Chambersville, Texas, to Floyd and Ruby (Redden) Thompson. On Nov. 30, 1942, she married Walter Howard "Curly" Starnes in McKinney. Mrs.Starnes worked for Collin County for more than 41 years.

She was appointed Deputy Clerk under Mr. James Webb on April 17, 1961. She served as Chief Deputy under Mr. Webb from December 1975 until May 1980.

On April 4, 1981, Mrs. Starnes was elected County Clerk, where she served until her retirement on December 31, 2002. She was also a lifetime member of Chambersville United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her son, Dicky Starnes and his wife, Sharon; grandson, Rowdy Starnes; and great grandchild, Brooklyn Starnes all of New Hope, Texas.

Mrs. Starnes was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Curly; brother, Burl Thompson and sister, Margie Foust.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 31 in the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel with Dr. Danny Buster officiating.

Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends for a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. p.m. Monday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.

link to article....

It put a tear in my eye reading that the McKinney city council has named a park along Wilson Creek after my friend Bonnie Wenk.

Bonnie was both passionate and gentle, a southern lady who loved the water and the trees and her fellow man. She worked for many years to protect and preserve the creeks, dams and lakes that make up much McKinney's green space.

I know she would be honored to see the Bonnie Wenk Park along Wilson Creek.

Bill

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McKinney City Council picks a name for the Wilson Creek greenway site.

Thursday, March 5, 2009
By Katie Knickerbocker, McKinney Courier-Gazette

Choosing names is often a difficult process but McKinney City Council members were all in agreement at the council meeting Tuesday March 3. They voted unanimously to name the Wilson Creek greenway site after late McKinney resident Bonnie Wenk.

District 1 Representative Gilda Garza said it was her honor and privilege to make the motion approving the Parks Board recommendation to name the site Bonnie Wenk Park.

Wenk was an environmental activist, teacher and writer, Garza said, as well as a member of the East Side Coalition, LULAC and the NAACP. She also worked on the 2003 Strategic Plan.

Marta Gore referred to Wenk as “an awesome unsung hero” during citizen comments at the start of the meeting. Wenk’s family was in attendance and gave comments after the motion passed.

“I cannot tell you how thankful I am to the park board and to the city council,” daughter Julia Shahid said. “Our family is extremely proud tonight.”

Shahid, a professor at Austin College, said she was in Malaysia on a trip with students when she was informed of the proposal to honor her mother. She said she was elated, honored and just blown away that someone thought that much of her mother.

“Her number one interest was environmental issues whether it had to do with the trees, whether it had to do with water, and the fact is, my mother, my daughter and myself, we were all involved in monitoring the water in Wilson Creek so this is really so perfect,” Shahid said.

Wenk's son Jack Wenk told the council he thinks the new name is something his mother would be very proud of.

Garza said the plans for Bonnie Wenk Park include a dog park, climbing boulders and open spaces for soccer/lacrosse among other amenities.

read article....

The Collin County Observer has learned that County Commissioner Jack Hatchell of Plano died last night, presumably as a result of his long battle with cancer.

Commissioner Hatchell was a graduate of Texas A&M, an army veteran and a registered civil engineer. Previous to his serving as Commissioner for Collin County Precinct 4, Mr. Hatchell was a city councilman in Plano.

Commissioner Hatchell was a long serving board member of the NCTCOG. Earlier this month, COG presented him with the William J. Pitstick Regional Excellence Award. He was commended for his outstanding public service career in local and state government and his proactive leadership on transportation issues.

Mr. Hatchell attended last week's commissioners court meeting, where he cast the deciding vote for the county's homestead exemption. At that meeting, Mr. Hatchell was obviously emotionally moved when the commissioners recognized him for receiving the Pitstick award.

As a personal note, I have always had the greatest respect for Commissioner Hatchell. His knowledge of transportation issues was exhaustive. He was always willing to share his wisdom with a candor not often seen in elected politicians. In his dealings with me, he unfailingly displayed the dignity and fairness of a gentleman.

At this time, no funeral arrangements have been released.

My prayers and condolances go to his wife Pat and to his children and grandchildren. He will be missed.

Bill

Dallas Morning News coverage is here

McKinney Courier-Gazette coverage is here.