Elmer B. Hudspeth Jr.

Loving husband, father, and grandfather, Elmer B. (E.B.) Hudspeth, Jr. went to his heavenly home on May 31, 2013. A visitation will be held today at Resthaven Funeral Home from 3:00 until 6:00 pm. A memorial service will be held Monday June 3, 2013 at Carillon’s Neil Chapel at 2:00 pm. A private family burial is scheduled.

Born January 27, 1921 to Elmer B., Sr. and Bessie Polk Hudspeth in Parker Co. Texas, he moved to Caddo, Texas in 1926, graduating from Caddo High School in 1938. He lettered in football, basketball, and track. Elmer graduated from Tarleton State College in 1940 with an Associate Degree in Agricultural Engineering. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1942 with a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering. In June 1942 he was commissioned into the Army Air Corps in Dallas. After completing navigation training at Mather Field, California in August 1943, he served overseas in the 98th Bomb Group in the 15th Air Force located in Lecce, Italy. As a navigator on the B-24 Liberator bomber, he flew 50 combat missions over southern Europe between 1943-1944. Elmer continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve until January 27, 1981, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He married Winnie M. Hiesermann on January 24, 1947 in San Juan, Texas.

During 1947-48, he was an instructor at Texas A&M, and taught at the University of Arkansas 1948-49. Elmer received his Masters of Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State University in 1949, also teaching there that year. After teaching an additional year at Texas A&M University, he moved to Lubbock in 1951 as Director of the Cotton Mechanization Project for the U.S Department of Agriculture. He and his co-workers were responsible for the development and refinement of the mechanical cotton stripper/harvester. He introduced the seed press wheel, furrow diking equipment and procedures for their use, and a harvester for narrow row cotton, all of which are now in commercial production and have contributed significantly to the growth of the cotton industry. He also worked with crop planting techniques and equipment, fertilizer and herbicide application, and weed control.

During his thirty-five year career as an agricultural engineer, Elmer received many awards including two Superior Service Awards from the USDA, Man of the Year in Southwestern Agriculture for 1971 from the Progressive Farmer magazine, and the Texas Tech Gerald W. Thomas Award for outstanding Agriculturalist in 1978. He was a member and Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Elmer was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and active at Carillon Retirement Community in Lubbock since 1998. His hobbies included golf, fishing, and traveling.

His beloved wife of 63 years, Winnie, preceded him in death in December 2010.

He is survived by two sons, Gary B. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Gregg W. of Atlanta, Georgia; one daughter, Marsha K. Aston and her husband, Junior of Plano, Texas; one grandson, Trey Aston of Dallas, Texas; two sisters, Kate Lowe and Betty Foster both of Abilene, Texas; and several special nieces and nephews. The family would especially like to thank Elmer’s caregivers for their kindness and service over the past two years: Lisa, Susan, Maria, Angie and Christina.

Elmer will be missed by his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.