Dr. William Morse "Moe" Hicks

Dr. William Morse “Moe” Hicks, 91, prominent Victoria physician, passed away on January 20, 2016. Dr. Hicks was born in Cincinnati in 1924 to Dr. W. M. Hicks, Sr. and Elizabeth MacDonald Hicks. A specialist in the practice of Internal Medicine for more than 40 years, Dr. Hicks received his medical education at the University of Cincinnati. He served an internship and a residency at Cincinnati General Hospital and was a physician in the U.S. Navy from 1949-1951. His training included residencies in Internal Medicine at Veterans Administration Hospital, Dayton, Ohio; and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston. In the 1950’s, Dr. Hicks was Assistant Chief of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology at the VA Hospital in Houston and was on the faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine as Assistant Professor of Medicine. He moved to Victoria in 1959 to enter private practice in association with the late Dr. Lloyd C. Jones.

During the next 40 years, he was on the active staff of both Citizens Hospital and DeTar Hospital, serving as chief of staff and a member of the Board of Managers of Citizens Hospital. He also served on the Board of Managers of Victoria Regional Hospital. Dr. Hicks was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and earned a Fellowship in the American College of Physicians. “Dr. Moe” is credited with organizing and training personnel for the first Intensive Care Unit at Citizens Hospital and for establishing the continuing Medical Education Program for physicians and medical personnel beginning in the 1970’s. He was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Nu Sigma Nu fraternity. Dr. Hicks also served on the Board of Directors of Hospice of South Texas and on the Ethics Committee at DeTar Hospital.

Dr. Hicks was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and his first wife, Dorothy Decker Hicks in 1994.

He is survived by his three children, Kathryn Hicks Spiering, Cynthia Hicks Rodriguez, and William Morse Hicks III; and grandchildren, Donald Paul Spiering and William Austin Spiering. Also surviving are his wife, Mary Stuart Hanley Hicks, and stepchildren, Michael Scott & Patricia Marie Hanley, Molly Hanley Callahan, and Mark Stuart & Denise Ann Hanley, as well as grandchildren, Patrick Stuart Hanley, Katheranne Hanley and Richard Hanley, plus several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 23rd at 10 am at Colonial Funeral Home, 1801 E. Red River Street in Victoria, TX 77901. Reverend Dr. Robert Johnston will preside over the ceremony.

Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, Hospice of South Texas, or the Hanley Endowed Scholarship at St. Joseph High School. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com