Gary Fickes Remembered as Visionary Public Servant in Southlake and Tarrant County
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Gary Fickes, a former Southlake mayor and longtime Tarrant County commissioner known for his hands-on leadership and community-minded service, died last week at his family’s ranch in Comanche. He was 75.
His memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Hurst Conference Center, 1601 Campus Dr. in Hurst, with visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Bluebonnet Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd. in Colleyville.
Fickes served on the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for 18 years representing Northeast Tarrant County, until his retirement in December of 2024. Previously, Fickes watched Southlake grow as its mayor from 1989 to 1996.
“He was a fabulous guy,” said Glen Whitley, former Tarrant County judge. “Gary was a great partner of mine on the commissioner’s court for the 16 years I was with him. He was respected for all the work he did. He was someone who just was going to be involved.”
Retirement Tribute
In November, just prior to his retirement, the Northeast Tarrant County sub courthouse was renamed in his honor. The decision underscored the widespread respect he had earned throughout his public service career.
“I couldn’t have had a better boss,” said Rebecca Barksdale, Fickes’ former precinct administrator. She worked for him for almost 15 years and saw him as working to improve the community and trying to avoid political theater.
“He had a true passion for what he did,” she said. “He was always about service, about helping people. It was always about how we can make it better. It wasn’t about your affiliation.”
His time on the commissioners’ court was highlighted by creating two major annual events. One, Empowering Seniors, grew from 300 participants to 3,000 over its 16 years with a focus on helping senior citizens with real estate issues to healthcare.
He established a transportation summit, seeing the need for addressing transportation concerns with Tarrant County’s surging growth. Whitley liked the idea so much that he copied it.
“I said this is a great idea, so I stole it and started to do it countywide,” Whitley said.
Fickes also influenced transportation at the local, state and national level, lending his expertise through collaborative work.
“He was a real leader in transportation,” Whitley, who appointed him to the regional transportational council. Fickes launched a transportation conference in Tarrant County before turning it over to the Tarrant Regional Transportation Council. His transportation work included sitting on the National Association of Counties Transportation Committee, Whitley said.
Connecting with people may have been his most outstanding talent. He initiated periodic newsletters for his constituents and public coffee meetings six times a year. He also was known for helping non-profits by donating a fish fry to help raise funds for charities.
“He was a visionary,” Barksdale said. “He had such a pulse on the community.”
Overseeing Growth
During his tenure as mayor of Southlake, Fickes oversaw momentous population growth and significant infrastructure expansion. The once rural community saw a population that more than tripled, rising from 5,000 to 17,000 residents during his time in office. Fickes was instrumental in the development of the popular Southlake Town Square and the opening of State Highway 114, improving North Texas connectivity.
Fickes remained involved in civic and educational initiatives throughout his career, all reflecting his commitment to community service. He was a longtime member of both the Colleyville Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Grapevine, plus a member of the Texas Health Resources Harris HEB Hospital board. A graduate of Sam Houston State University, he also served on the university’s alumni board and established the Gary Fickes Osteopathic Medicine Endowed Scholarship to support students pursuing healthcare careers.
He himself was a beneficiary of modern medicine. In 2008, the commissioner underwent a life-saving liver transplant. Doctors estimated the transplant would extend his life by a decade, yet he lived 17 more years. In gratitude, Fickes formed Team Fickes to participate in the annual LifeGift 2nd Chance Run to support for organ donation.
He is survived by his wife, Kathy Fickes; son Chris Fickes; son Corey Fickes and his wife Kacey; daughter Jennifer Styers and her husband Alex; stepdaughter-in-law Amy Holland; stepdaughter Cassandra DeMora and her husband Steve; granddaughter Evelyn Fickes and grandson Jack Fickes; his brother Ken Fickes and wife, Sally Slomer; and sister Pam and her husband Jonathan Miller.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Rotary Club of Grapevine, the Lions Club of Colleyville, the Gary Fickes Osteopathic Medicine Endowed Scholarship at Sam Houston State University, the Longhorn Council of Boy Scouts of America or LifeGift.
