“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their Strength. They will Soar on wings like eagles,” Isiah 40:31. Thomas Hugh Ereckson Sr., an honored long time citizen of Allen passed on Monday, May 1, 2006. Thomas was born on February 26, 1929 in Kaufman County, Texas. He attended Bethany and Allen Public Schools and graduated in 1949 from Allen High School. Determination, hard work, ethics and integrity were his hallmarks. Thomas attended Draughn’s Business College, Dallas, receiving a Bachelor of Accounts Diploma, going to work for Western Electric Company, Dallas, as an accounting clerk. After divestiture, Thomas continued to work with AT & T, now Lucent Technologies, taking early retirement after 38 years. In 1989 he did consulting work with Ericsson Telecommunication, Richardson, and in 1990 was employed by DSC Communications, Plano, retiring in 1994. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and was deployed during the Korean War to Camp McGill, Japan, 162nd Ordinance Company, 2nd Amphibious Support Brigade and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1953, receiving five commendation medals. Thomas was a part of the new generation of leaders who served and volunteered their energy to the growing city of Allen. He was a charter member of both the Allen Lions Club and Allen Volunteer Fire Department, serving briefly as chief. He helped raise money to purchase and refurbish Allen’s first fire truck and helped to purchase and installed the city’s first street signs. His organizational and leadership skills were utilized through his tenure on the Allen School Board for over ten years, where he served as board president. Over the years, before Allen’s tremendous growth, Thomas played an instrumental part in many of the key areas of the direction of the Allen Independent School District, including the integration of schools, adding air conditioning, adding kindergarten curriculum, starting the band program, numerous remodeling projects and purchasing land for Rountree Elementary School. He served his community out of his love and concern for the city and school in which he was raised. He gave of his time with no self interest or financial gain. Throughout his life he continued to be a quiet supporter of the schools and city, attending football and basketball games and helped to coordinate the reunions of the graduates of Allen classes of 1940-1949. On September 12, 2004, the Allen Independent School District dedicated Thomas Hugh Ereckson Middle School in his honor. Thomas married Mary Lou Ledbetter, September 7, 1951 and they settled in Allen raising their family in a community he so loved. He was a member of the Allen Christian Church, which his great grandparents Thomas Jefferson and Parthenia Jan (John) Ereckson and John Liter and Mary Susannah (Lunsford) Brown help found. Thomas was the love, inner strength and moral compass of his family. Thomas was truly one of Allen's remarkable own, blending the past and present together. We celebrate his life and legacy to Allen and precious memories. Thomas Hugh Ereckson is preceded in death by his Allen forebearers; parents Eugene Floyd and Mary Edna (Dunn) Ereckson of Allen; and sister Mary Gene Fonville of Garland. Thomas is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Mary Lou (Ledbetter) Ereckson; brother Samuel Stewart Ereckson and his wife Martha of Savoy, Texas. Surviving children are son, Thomas Hugh Ereckson Jr. and wife Sharon (Flanagan) Ereckson of Van Alstyne, and grandchildren Elizabeth Ann Ereckson of Corinth and Thomas Preston Ereckson of Van Alstyne; daughter Debra Lynn Arledge and husband Dwayne Arledge of Allen, and grandchildren John Ereckson Arledge and Mary Alayne Arledge of Allen; and youngest son, Johnny Eugene Ereckson of Dallas. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2006 at First United Methodist Church of Allen with Rev. Milton Guttierrez officiating. Burial will follow at Allen Cemetery, Allen, TX. Family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Foundation for Allen Schools, 601 E. Main St., Allen, TX 75002