Historical Tidbits
by DONN BROOKS
We buried a good one recently. He will be tough to replace.
Chester Reeves probably never thought of himself as a splendid role model. My guess is that he just saw himself as a working stiff trying to do a good job. He spent a career patrolling Hays County roads. He knew every kid in the county and had a strong relationship with them all. All county towns claimed him and his partners as their own. He was a fine example of a good human being.
A native of Hutto, Chester came to Hays County as a Texas Highway Patrolman in about 1958 after being stationed in Corsicana for two years. He graduated from the Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol School in 1956.
Those facts do little in the way of describing Chester. I first came to know him when I signed on with the San Marcos Police Department in 1962. I had been a military policeman, but for the most part we had no training program and, to be practical in the matter, Chester and his partner Bobby Kinser provided lots of the mentoring services for those of us who wanted to do a good job.
I rode with both men all I could, and I know I drove them crazy with questions, but they taught me so much. Chester had a marvelous manner with violators and it was good business to emulate him at every opportunity. He did not wear authority on his sleeve, but he was always sufficiently resolute to get the job done.
Chester was famous for his willingness to back up local officers in situations that could turn ornery. He knew everybody in town, and situations that could turn hostile had a funny way of calming down when Chester came rolling up. And, to his credit, he never came in with a condescending attitude. Hear me now, if fighting was the order of the day, Chester would and could fight.
Chester worked well with all agencies and officers and never griped about his own department.
From passing out ice at parades to keep students from suffering heat stroke to being the acknowledged best pursuit driver in Texas when Chester saw a job that needed doing he did it in a professional manner.
He loved mentoring young officers. One of his protégés, Chief Bill Pruitt, rose to become the Chief of Criminal Law Enforcement for the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was a pallbearer for Chester.
When people talked about “Chester and Bobby” it was understood who it was. They needed neither last names nor titles. They were more than highway patrolman or speed cops. They were the law in Hays County outside the City of San Marcos and they enjoyed enormous respect. Later it was “Chester and Buddy” or “Chester and Ralph” but Chester was the constant. And, to be fair in the matter, the City of San Marcos received lots of first rate law enforcement from these Texas Highway Patrolmen.
Yes, Chester loaned me money to cover an overdraft or two and went to the Kyle Bank to make the deposit. He was coming this way anyway, you understand! I saw him introduce Mr. Charley Bales to his sergeant as being “the best domino player in Hays County” and I have an idea that the sergeant figured that Chester had engaged in a game or two in the back of the Bon Ton grocery.
Attendees at his funeral represented what may be the last gathering of old Hays County. It was a great tribute to a great man.
The long, lanky slow talking man cast a great shadow. We owe him more than we can repay.
