Lowell Ross Hicks, longtime ag pilot, longtime member of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) and Texas Agricultural Aviation Association (TAAA) passed away last week at age 84. He was born in Paris, Tenn. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at 16 years old and he was on a three-year tour of duty in the Far East, assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, Company C, 499th Engineer Battalion in Korea as a Combat Construction Specialist located at the Imjin River, overseeing dams, bridges and river crossings in the combat zones.

 

When he returned to the U.S. he was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. where he met his wife, Hazel Abner at a square dance and soon after they were married. With the encouragement and support of his wife, he began to fulfill a childhood dream of flying airplanes. He fulfilled that dream by earning his private pilot license, commercial license and then moved the family to Lubbock, Texas for ag aviation training.

 

Lowell loved ag aviation and it took him and his family to Oklahoma, North Dakota, Louisiana, Georgia, Arizona, Texas, and Nicaragua. He flew Stearmans, Ag Cats and Pawnees. In July 1990 he was severely burned in a refueling accident and at Herman Burn Center in Houston, Texas he developed pneumonia and slipped into a three-month coma. He was released after the four-month hospitalization with a medical assessment that he would never fly again. His can-do determination to continue doing what he loved proved his doctors wrong and he not only returned to flying, but he also bought Pawnees and Ag Cats and that was the beginning of his own business, Double L Flying Service which he and his wife operated until 2016.

 

With over forty years in the agricultural aviation industry, Lowell was a licensed pilot, a licensed instructor, and owner-operator. He was a great leader in the industry by advising and helping develop young pilots, holding office and receiving leadership awards including President of TAAA.  Lowell and Hazel regularly attended NAAA annual conventions and supported NAAA and NAAREF.  Andrew Moore, NAAA’s CEO, stated, “Lowell will be greatly missed.  He and Hazel are two people that warm our hearts every year when we see them at the annual convention.” 

 

Lowell cherished his family and friends and always made the effort to keep in touch with everyone no matter the distance. He loved to travel, and he and Hazel visited every state in the U.S. and Canada, often in their RV. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Hazel (Abner) Hicks, his daughter Wendy Thomson, his son, Jeff Hicks, his granddaughter Heather Thomson Lovallo, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

 

Funeral services are today at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery.