Sam Cox

He was born July 27, 1943 in Austin, Texas to parents B.L. and Lois Schwartz Cox. Sam graduated from William B. Travis High School in Austin and was a graduate of the Austin Police Academy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, taxidermy, music and singing, family gatherings, cooking and barbecuing and internet research.

Sam is preceded in death by his parents, Lois and B.L. Cox, his brother Edgar Cox, his mother-in-law Ruby McClish Hall Tuttle and his father-in-law L.C. Hall, Jr.

He is survived by his wife Judy (JuJu), his son John David Cox & wife Terri, his daughter Theresa Lynn Cox & partner Crystal Allen, his son John Edgar Cox, his “adopted son” Vernon Hampton and daughter Ciara. Sam is also survived by his grandchildren Derek Cox & wife Lane, Dustin Cox & Diane Pennington, Danielle Cox & Trent Hatcher and Brennan Cox, his great grandchildren, Shayla Cox, Charlie Cox, Abilene Cox and Hayes Cox, sister-in-law - Lennie Edwards, sister-in-law Ruby Stroup & husband Ray, brother-in-law James Tuttle, nephews Dwayne Cox & Wife Patti, Shane Cox & Wife Lea Ann and Eric Edwards & Wife Debra, nieces Shana Ritchie & husband Kent, Becky Wampler & husband Shane, and Angela Bullock & partner Danny Collins, numerous great-nephews and great-nieces, as well as a myriad of close and dear friends.

Sam’s work career began as a lineman for the City of Austin Electric Department at about 18 years old. At 21 years of age, he began training and graduated from the Austin Police Academy. He then joined the Austin Police Department, working in several different divisions. For 3 years, Sam served as President of the Austin Police Association. While serving with APD, Sam began a career as a traffic reporter with KXAN-TV, then as a traffic reporter for 590-AM KLBJ Radio. Because of Sam’s law enforcement background and knowledge, the morning show on KLBJ Radio included him as a talk show host and he became known to listeners as “Sergeant Sam.”

Sam excelled as a sergeant over a shift of men at APD and excelled as a radio talk show host. He was dedicated to his work. After 31 years of public service, Sam retired as a Senior Sergeant from the Austin Police Department in 1995.

Following his retirement from APD, Sam worked at the Texas Department of Transportation, creating and organizing the Traffic Patrol for our Texas highways. He was instrumental in the creation and implementation of the current 911 Center in Austin.

In his long work history, Sam always had a second job in addition to his full-time job, among which were: Taxidermist, Head of Security at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Head of Security during construction of Barton Creek Mall, and auditor and security advisor for Jack-In-The-Box restaurants in a multi-city area in Central Texas. For two years, Sam worked 80 hours a week while Judy was studying and became a certified court reporter. Sam admired and respected the people who worked for him and for whom he worked. He truly loved his work careers and said many times over the years that God had blessed him in all his endeavors.

Sam and his beloved and devoted wife, Judy, were happily married for almost 55 years. They traveled together over the globe, including places such as Alaska, Hawaii, Greece, Turkey, Italy, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and many others. Sam and Judy are members of The Church at Horseshoe Bay.