Barbara Ann Niemann

Barbara was a member of the San Antonio Police Department, having been the first female officer to graduate the academy in 1960. Barbara worked her way through the department, having promoted to Detective and working her last 10 years as the first female Homicide Detective. Barbara retired from the Department in 1981.

During her police career, Barbara was an advisor to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in helping set policies and laws regarding violence to women. Mayor Lila Cockrell was an advocate for Barbara after numerous accomplishments which includes being a founding member advisor at the Rape Crisis Center San Antonio in 1973. She also helped establish the Child Abuse Dual Reporting Law in Austin in 1975 by working with Texas legislators to enact this new law. Barbara also assisted as a committee member to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office in writing Chapter 5 (Family Violence) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures.

Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, followed by her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, both while working full time at the police department and raising two boys.

Barbara was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Preceptor Kappa No Chapter. After many years, these women continue to meet together. Barbara earned numerous awards and recognitions throughout her lifetime in the community with some examples to include the following. Barbara earned recognition as Woman in Communication Headliner of the Year 1974 and Owen W. Kilday Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 1975. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, earning Woman of the Year in 1980. She was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 1985 and earned the Constance Allen Heritage Guild for Lifetime Learning Educator of the year in 1993.

Barbara loved her time on the police department. After retirement, she went on to teach at San Antonio College in both the regular classroom and at the San Antonio College Law Enforcement Academy. Barbara also taught several years at the Alamo Area Council of Government (AACOG) Police Academy. Barbara really enjoyed teaching current and new students who would later become police officers all over the state of Texas. Barbara also served as an expert witness in civil litigation cases with several San Antonio attorneys.

Her most coveted work was that as a clinical psychologist at the San Antonio State Hospital. Working with patients became her passion until retiring from teaching and working at the hospital in 2010. However, Barbara would volunteer at the State Hospital, serving on the Civilian Volunteer Board, earning her last recognition award as the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Barbara, known as “Big Red” to many, was a strong, active leader in the community and loved reminiscing and sharing her stories that she experienced throughout her lifetime. All who had the opportunity to be in her presence knew and loved her for her strength and leadership. Barbara will be missed by us all.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Essie Finch; and her sister, Nola Aguilar.

She is survived by her son, Donald Hunt and wife, Pam; son, William Hunt and wife, Stacey; grandchildren, Travis Hunt (Gayle), Amanda Rosales (Diego), Brittany Hunt, William Hunt, Jr. (Kristina), and Melissa Alexander (Perry); great-grandchildren, Jacob, Hailee, Grayson and Asher Hunt, Mia and Noah Rosales, Henry and Sophie Hunt, Jeremy, John and Jonathan Maxey; great great-grandchildren. Xander, Zayd and Aubrey Maxey; niece, Sally Aguilar, and nephews, Patrick Aguilar, and Michael Heim.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Porter Loring Mortuary North, with a Funeral Service to follow at 6:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers for Barbara, please make donations to:

Volunteer Services Council of the San Antonio State Hospital

Mail a check or money order to:

VSC of SASH

6711 S. New Braunfels Suite 100

San Antonio , Tx 78223

Or online at:

https://sashvsc.org.

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