PRSRT STD HOUSTON POLICE RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION US POSTAGE PAID P.O. BOX 2288, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77252-2288 HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 9155 THE With Honor We Served . With Pride We Remember OFFICIALETI PUBLICATIONR OF THEED HOUSTON POLICE RETIREDADGE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION VOL.R XIV, NO. 4 B August - September 2015 Thanks to the Entertainment Committee The HPROA Reunion was held this year at the Convention We want to also acknowledge and extend our special Center in Crockett, Texas on Saturday, June 27, 2015 with thanks to our Entertainment Chair Person, Phyllis Wunsche, 122 attendees present. The proceeds derived from the for her assistance in making this Reunion possible and a SILENT AUCTION was $2300.00 which was donated to the great success. Family Assistance Committee. We assure you that this donation will greatly aid in the Your Family Assistance Committee would like to thank all comfort and well being of our “sick and shut-ins.” that donated the items for the SILENT AUCTION. We also extend our thanks to those that actual won the bid for FAMILY ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE their generous contribution. The persons that worked the Forrest W. Turbeville, Chairman SILENT AUCTION were Steve and Vickie Rayne, E.J. and Nelson Foehner, Member Delores Smith, Phyllis Wunsche, Jose Weber, Sue Gaines and Doug Bostock, Member Barbara Cotten. We appreciate their assistance in making Ron Headley, Member this auction a great success. Ray Smith, Member HPD Back Then Recently while attending a retiree funeral, I could not I tugged at Freytag’s sleeve and advised him it was time to help but notice the same faces in attendance. There be seated. I gave up on Doug Hudson. was Forrest Turbeville, Nelson Foehner, Steve Toth, Herb Armand and a few more. I know, I am guilty, we are too The service was exceptional. Our Chaplain Monty was busy, it’s too far, the weather, gas prices, etc., are all to outstanding. After the service, as folks were walking by to be considered. pay respects, I saw several old timers. The twins, Howard and Robert Holderrieth, were among attendees. We proceeded We cannot attend all services but we can do better. to graveside and finally our farewell. I know I can. I will do more to honor my brothers and sisters who have gone ahead to prepare our roll call I noticed several of our guys hanging back, not ready to go. with the BIG GUY. At this funeral, I watched our people They just wanted a few more minutes with friends and family. exchanging stories about our lost brother. There were smiles and yes, right out laughing about past times. OK, here it is, I’ll lay it out for you. We need to attend the Doug Hudson and David Freytag could be found with services of our friends while we can, BEFORE we are the guest the Honor Guard advising them about how it should be of honor. done. The young-uns in the Honor Guard were polite, shaking heads in agreement and smiling but squirming, as in please someone save us. I did. Till next time, E.J. Smith 2 The Retired Badge August - September 2015 Edition FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BILL ELKIN In Houston the political season is One would like to think that candidate beginning to heat up, with a large Adrian Garcia, who draws a police group of candidates running for the pension, would support our fight to Mayor’s Office. Since Annise Parker is preserve our pension law intact. We term limited, the mayor’s seat is open, will find out! In regards to Chris Bell, and is viewed by many as fertile we recall that he was never too ground, and ripe for conquest. This supportive of the police officers in the race has drawn many faces, some past. And, Ben Hall is an unknown familiar and some unfamiliar. There factor at this time. stands out several candidates that are all too familiar to us, namely Stephen This leaves us with the only known Costello, Councilman at Large, who supporter of our Defined Benefit also is term limited, and Bill King, Pensions, and that is in the person of former columnist and member of the Sylvester Turner. He has been vetted Chronicle’s Editorial Board, both of by the HPOU and the Firefighters Union, whom are widely known for their anti- and they both have endorsed his defined benefit pension stance. candidacy for mayor. It is further noted that he carried the firefighter’s pension Among the other announced legislation in the last session of the candidates are also some well known Texas Legislature, which died before Bill Elkin, Executive Director persons. Starting with Sylvester Turner, reaching the Senate. who previously ran for the mayor’s post, and is finishing his 26th year From the personal conversations held The city elections are going to be as Texas House of Representatives between Sylvester Turner, Bob Barnard, vitally important to all retirees this member for District 139, of Harris our PAC Chairman, and I, we found that year. This will decide how much County. Also are Adrian Garcia, he supports our position of maintaining, support we receive at city hall in the former City Council member, and intact, our present pension plan and fight to preserve our pensions. There former Sheriff of Harris County, Chris benefits. This confirms to us the same are already signs that the next session Bell, former city council member, and commitment that he conveyed to of the Texas Legislature will be even former U.S. Congressman, and Ben both the HPOU and the firefighters. As more difficult in our fight at the state Hall, who also ran for the mayor’s seat a result, it was recommended to our level. The indicators are already last election time. Board of Directors that we also endorse appearing in the Houston Chronicle. the candidacy of Sylvester Turner for In the past week there have been We have immediately ruled out Mayor of the City of Houston. That two negative articles on the pension supporting, and certainly not endorsement was confirmed, as well as issue, and the presumed city budget endorsing the candidacy of Costello the candidacy of Lane Lewis, Council shortfall of the future. or Bill King. Their anti-defined benefit at Large Position #1, and for the re- pension posture ensures our decision. election of Dave Martin, Councilman for District E. This is Your Retired Badge Any member or family member of HPROA is allowed and encouraged to submit articles for publication in this newspaper. Opinions, events, war stories, family announcements... all are welcome and enjoyed by our members. Submissions will only be edited as necessary to protect your HPROA from legal liabillity. The Retired Badge August - September 2015 Edition 3 A Message from Stephen Rayne, President HPROA Max has been a strong, steady and I want to acknowledge all the conservative member of our board work done by my wife Vickie. This and he will be missed. Thank you, year she again made the floral Max, for your years of service to our table centerpieces that looked so organization!! beautiful and were given to one lucky member at each table. I also As you can see from the ballot you want to thank her for all her work should have already received, and organizing and running the silent hopefully returned to us, our current auction that made $2,300 dollars for Parliamentarian, Matt Potell, is running our family assistance Committee. for election to fill the position that Max is vacating. We always encourage Also, a special thanks to Phyllis interested and dedicated members Wunsche who had to rent a truck to of our organization to run for these bring all the items she had collected volunteer positions and welcome their for the silent auction. Last but not participation. Your HPROA currently least, I want to thank (Sue Gaines, has a good group of directors who Delores Smith, Barbara Cotten and work well together and have some Cathy Buckles) who helped Vickie fun doing it. during the reunion. Stephen Rayne, President HPROA I want to thank Bob Schields for again Our meal was again catered by The being our Nominating Committee Moosehead Cafe of Crockett. As in Spring has sprung, fall has fell, summer’s Chairman and E.J. Smith for being the past the meal was delicious and here and it is hot as--Fire. The wettest our Election Committee Chairman. the brisket just melted in your mouth. spring in recorded Texas history is over Also, my thanks goes out to the I was again complimented several finally and the usual Texas August volunteers who helped stuff and times about the quality of the meal. weather is here. stamp the ballot envelopes at the All seemed to have a good time and July meeting and helped count the we have the Crockett Civic Center Speaking of August, on August 13, ballots at the August meeting. already reserved for next year’s 2015, two important activities will reunion on June 25, 2016. occur during our monthly HPROA On Saturday, June 27, 2015, we had meeting. First, is the counting of our annual East Texas Reunion in Your HPROA is a family of volunteers the ballots, you sent in, to elect Crockett, Texas. Our guest speaker, who work to keep our retired police the President and half the Board of again this year at the reunion, was family informed and together. We will Directors of your HPROA. The second one of our Associate Members, continue to look out for our retirement important activity is a free lunch Clyde Black.