Posted on: Friday, February 6, 2009
Service Saturday for Cecil Wingo, Law Enforcement Pioneer
Cecil L. Wingo, Jr. 1929-2009. "The toughest, sweek man I ever me," Skye Wingo.
I had the pleasure of knowing Cecil Wingo for many years. He was, and still is, a legend in law enforcement throughout the country, and he was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. That is, everyone on the right side of the law.
Cecil died Monday afternoon at the Flying "S" Cafe in Angleton, a place he went regularly to be with old friends, to sit around and tell old war stories, talk politics, and generally enjoying being with each other. His son, Matt Wingo, said he was weak and probably should not have been at the Flying "S", but he wanted to be with his friends.
"Wingo" as he was known, was diagnosed with Mesothelioma after personally discovering a fist sized tumor in his left lung. It was removed in 1999.
Wingo was born in the mountains of Oklahoma to the toughest of people in the toughest of times and geography. Coal miners, people who hunted game for a living, Indian Territory. His people were Cherokee Choctaw ancestry. His uncles and grandfathers were U.S. Marshals, Cherokee Lighthorsemen, working for the court of Judge Paker, known as "Hangin" Parker.
Cecil Wingo spent all his adult life in law enforcement in one capacity or another. First as a patrol officer in Freeport, Texas in 1948. A year later he was appointed as Chief Deputy in Brazoria County. At 23 he became the first and youngest police chief in Angleton.
He was paid $125 a month as Angleton Police Chief supporting his wife Sue and son Matt. He left for a $25 a month raise as a Texas HIghway Patrolman then later doubled his pay by going to work as a U.S. Border Patrolman for $300 a month.
In the years that followed, Wingo was elected Constable in Brazoria County and became a fast friend of popular Sheriff Robert Gladney. After his term as Constable was over, he remained close to Gladney and would still chase bad guys who would commit crimes in Brazoria County. When Sheriff Gladney decided to organize a reserve force in his department, it was Cecil Wingo who drew that assignment. For many years, the Sheriff's Office in Brazoria County had a 100-plus member reserve force.
In Robertson County Wingo headed a mental health center in College Station. There he became friends with legendary Texas Ranger Bob Connell and FBI Agent Bob Wyatt. He was appointed as a deputy for Sheriff Sonny Elliott in "Booger" County.
During his time in Robertson County he became associated with ViCap, Violent Criminal Apprehension Program. He worked in the Behavioral Science Unit, a criminal profiling entity which created criminal personality "psychotypes" of the really bad men of our times. Ted Bundy, Coral Watt among them.
Wingo left the law enforcement field briefly working for large, international construction companies as an engineer and vice president. But he was a lawman at heart and soon went back to Angleton to serve another term as police chief as well as city manager. This time as chief he formed the reserve police academy, the first in Texas.
Alway seeking a new challenge, Wingo accepted the position of Chief Deputy for world renowed Medical Examiner and Pathologist, Dr. Joseph Jachimczk and stayed with "Doctor Joe" for over 20-years before retiring. During his stint with Jachimczk he was credited with designing the new facility for the medical examiners office. He was instrumental in identifying some of the remains in the infamous "Candy Man" mass murders.
Retirement would not relegate Wingo to a recliner chair. He needed to be involved, to be active, he longed to hunt criminals and his greatest satisfaction was when through scientific police work or just plain old 'trackin' em' down" he slammed the jailhouse door on them.
In the following years he would serve as police chief in Dickinson and Surfside and the Texas Medical Center.
Even after struck with illness, "Doctor Cecil Wingo" as he would become known, continued consulting for law enforcement agencies, profiling killers and offering sage advice on what makes crook tick and how to pursue them. After doctors removed one of his lungs, he continued his pursuit of criminal justice believing that to sit down would hasten his death. He battled COPD, Cronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
In his final days, Wingo fell, breaking a leg, arm, some ribs and suffering a concussion. He still wouldn't sit down, he still made the trip to the Flying "S" Cafe that day.
After spending time with friends, Wingo made it outside to his car, where his lost his breath and collapsed in the parking lot. A friend, Ray Starr, ran to his aid and called for an ambulance. Wingo insisted he would be okay, he didn't want the ambulance. He died in the parking lot of the Flying "S" Cafe.
Cecil was a good friend of my father, a 36-year veteran Houston Homicide Lieutenant and a legend in his own right. Dad lead the investigation of the "Candy Man" mass murders which resulted in the arrests of Dean Corll, Elmer Wayne Henley, and David Owen Brooks. He worked hand-in-glove with Cecil Wingo and Doctor Joe, as well as many other dedicated investigators and law enforcement specialists. He admired and respected them both, and if he were here today, he would be among the many mourning the passing of this law enforcement hero.
Cecil Wingo leaves wife of 58-years Sue, only son Matt, and three grandchildren: Skye, Stormy and Sunnye.
The family will greet visitors Friday beginning at 6;00pm at the Lakewood Funeral Home Chapel, 98 Dixie Drive in Lake Jackson.
Funeral services will be Saturday morning at 10:00am, also at Lakewood.
Breck Porter, Police News Editor
editor@thepolicenews.net
