December 4, 1923 - January 4, 2014

Hilton Buck Ramsey was born on December 4, 1923 in La Salle County, Texas and died January 4, 2014. Survivors include two sons; Buck Marshall Ramsey and William Hilton Ramsey, both 0of Austin, Texas; grandson Marshall Thomas Ramsey of Santa Barbara, CA. and great grandson Elias Buck Ramsey of Austin, Texas.

He grew up during the Great Depression and things were tough. There was a twenty-five percent unemployment rate throughout the nation. In this area, however, the rate was well over fifty percent. But everyone was in the same boat and the kids had fun playing softball and hardball whenever someone could produce a ball and bat.

He was able to catch the school bus and attend the Cotulla 6th grade and up to graduation in 1940. He did well in school and was a senior at the age of 15. He also played 4 years of football, boxed in the Golden Gloves, and 4 years of tennis. At this time he was played over 60 years of tournament tennis on and off, is a certified instructor and a retired member of the Professional Tennis Association.

The depression was not over yet - but he did find a job with a Cotulla Drug Store. From 8 to 12he was a bookkeeper, 1 to 5 a clerk and from 5 to 10pm a soda jerker and car hop. This was seven days per week and his salary was board, room, laundry and $4.25 per week. Everything seemed pretty easy after that. After a year of this he went to San Antonio for a better job and future.

Shortly after Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Air Force and became an aviation cadet. After a year and half of school he graduated as a fighter pilot. More training and then overseas to Europe. There he flew 50 combat missions in P-47's (the last one just two days before the war ended). During the six months that he flew combat his planes were shot up 7 times - but he got them all back to base. Out of a fight group of 75 pilots 66 of them were shot down during this period.

After 50 missions he was on orders t ho home but his Fighter Squadron was being sent to the Pacific. He let a young married man go home in his place and then went to the pacific with his outfit. They were pretty Gung Ho about winning the war in those days.

Later Buck received a Regular Commission and stayed in the Air Force for 23 years. He served in North Africa, Europe, Central and South America, the Panama Canal, Alaska, Iceland, Japan and Korea. He was primarily on operations officer at Squadron, Groups and Air Force level. He also flew the P-40, P-47, P-51, F-80, F-86, F-94, F-89, F-102 and F-101.

Buck went to several good schools in the service and also private night schools. Pilot School, Pilot Instructor School, Instrument Instructor Pilot School, Command and Staff school and the Advanced Management School (12 undergraduate and 39 graduate hours in one year). Civilian schools were Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, University of Maryland and George Washington University at Washington D.C.

Buck had planned to stay n the service for 35 years. Unfortunately he was a Personality A (They want things done right - and right damn now). Personality A's usually have stomach ulcers, migraine headaches and heart attacks. Buck had all three but found that running and operating a small ranch was soothing and healing. He stated that he had already lived much longer than he thought possible.

He has been a member of the Cotulla Post of the American Legion for over 50 years. Buck recently owned and operated a cattle ranch in South Texas, as well as being a Management Consultant and USPTA tennis pro.

He will be buried in the Ramsey Cemetery in Artesia Wells on land once owned by his great grandfather.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2014 at Peters Funeral Home from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Services will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Peters Funeral Home at 1:00 pm.