Richard Chinnock

RICHARD L. DICK CHINNOCK Richard L. Dick Chinnock peacefully departed this world early Thursday at Trinity Medical Center after a summer-long illness. Dick was born in Warren, OH, on May 6, 1929, and raised in Beaumont, TX, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Lamar University with majors in accounting and economics. Dick spent four years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician serving in San Francisco, Point Magu Guided Missile Testing Center and in Korea. He began his banking career in Houston in 1955 with what is now Bank One, becoming a recognized expert in bank operations and bank administration. He also served community banks in Brownsville and Galveston and retired from Bank One, Brenham, in 1994. After retirement, Dick became active in the Brenham Police Department s Citizen Police Academy and its Alumni Association, also serving as vice president of the first regional organization of alumni associations. He chaired Brenham/Washington County Crime Stoppers, Inc., establishing the eligibility framework for that organization to receive funds from convicted felons through the district courts. Dick was actively involved in numerous civic organizations, among which recently were the Volunteer Services Council for Brenham State School, AnimalsTLC and Keep Washington County Beautiful. At the time of his death, Dick was in his third term as the Brenham City Council representative for Ward 4, an office he considered a great honor. As a city council member, he experienced joy and frustration in his efforts to effectively represent the citizens of Brenham. The rewards were great in that he could affect government policies to favorably impact people s lives. Nevertheless, he was sometimes frustrated by his own impatient nature because he could never accomplish as much as he wanted as fast as he wanted. Dick could cut to the chase in whatever issue came before him and became known for his succinct and occasionally sharp comments. He also frequently urged other people who are active in the community to take their civic involvement one step farther and seek a local elected office. Drawing upon his background in banking, Dick was an articulate advocate for fiscal responsibility, absolute integrity in all who represent the city, and excellence in customer service. Our citizens and our employees deserve nothing less, he said often. Upon election in 1996 his first council action was to initiate adoption of the city s first employee code of ethics. Dick was the city council s representative in meetings with ratings agencies relative to new debt issue, helping to improve the city s bond rating and thus save many thousands of taxpayers dollars over the life of the debt. Dick had a sharp eye for detail in city documents as well as in budgeting and became thoroughly familiar with the city s charter and its ordinances. He was also a board member representing Washington County on the Brazos Valley Council of Governments. Dick is survived by his wife Carla Cole of Brenham; sister Gail and husband John Channing of Bayou Vista, TX; brother Bert Chinnock of Austin, TX; daughter Rachel Chinnock of Brenham; son Richard Keith and wife Kris Chinnock of Merced, CA; step-daughter Sarah McCaghren of Seattle, WA; grandchildren Shawn and wife Jill Roser of Chicago, IL; Ryan Chinnock, serving in the U.S. Navy on the USS Enterprise; Meghan Roser, a student at St. Joseph s College in Rensselaer, IN; and Cathy and husband Adam Lund of St. Paul, MN; and great-granddaughter Shelby Callisto Lund of St. Paul, MN. Dick was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Virginia Chinnock and his wife of 35 years, Jan Alice Delhomme Chinnock. Pallbearers include John Channing, Dick Neal, Carrell James Newman, Glen Peters, Terry Roberts and Jimmy Zettel. Honorary pallbearers include all city of Brenham employees. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Oaks Chapel with the Reverend Villard Hunter of the Vineyard Church of Brenham officiating. Donations honoring Dick may be made to the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Volunteer Services Council for Brenham State School, AnimalsTLC or one s favorite charity.