Kenneth Wayne Hicks Sr.

22 June 1932 - 27 May 2015

Mr. Kenneth Wayne "Bird-dog" Hicks, Sr. died peacefully in his home, 27 May 2915, in Mount Olive, AL, at the age of 82. Ken is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children, Dwight Smith (Mary) of Kankakee, Illinois; Deborah Neckopulos, Judy Jacobs (Darrell) and Patti Hicks all of Warrior, Alabama, and Wayne (Ken) Hicks (Rhonda) of Euharlee, Georgia; sibilings, Marion Johns of Texas; 10 grandchildren and many great and great-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Ollie of Texas, siblings, Bud, Keith and Tommy Hicks; sons, Noble D. Smith and Eddie Hicks; and a grand daughter Jacqueline Arthur.

Ken was born on 22 June 1932 in Fort Worth, Texas to Thomas and Ollie Hicks. Following his graduation from high school, Ken served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict as a jet engine mechanic and flight instructor before receiving an honorable discharge. Following his service, Ken was self employed distributing fresh fruit and juices in Forth Worth, Texas. Ken married Elizabeth Smith in 1955 and they soon moved their young expanding family to Florida. Ken continued his self employment as baked goods distributor, even appearing in commercials on the Country Boy Eddie show.

Ken soon found his passion in the steel industry as Melting Supervisor for Florida Steel where he honed his metallurgical knowledge. Ken and the family moved to Kankakee, Illinois in 1967 where Ken continued supervising production at the Kankakee electric (now Nucor) Steel. 1981 took the Hicks family to Birmingham, Alabama where Ken retired from Southern united / Birmingham Steel (Nucor) in 1998.

Kens Life centered on his love of his family and the science of steel. Ken enjoyed his children and grandchildren's various activities and thoroughly enjoyed his time coaching the Bradley lions Bantam football teams for his years in Illinois.

Visitation is set for Friday, 29 May 2015, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm with a funeral service on Saturday 30 May 2015 at 11:00am followed by his burial in Oakwood Memorial Gardens, Gardendale, AL.

The family would like to thank Eunice Karanja, Faith Kimingi, Rachel Ngae and Paula Michere for their commitment and loving care during Ken's decline.