Hyatt Cheek Jr.

As a child, Hyatt loved the outdoors and sports. He excelled in football and basketball in high school, earning varsity letters in both. Baylor University offered him a football scholarship, but his eyes were set on Texas A&M to study engineering. While in high school, Hyatt was proud to have become an Eagle Scout.

Hyatt thrived in the Corp of Cadets at Texas A&M, even taking the first aerial photos of the Texas A&M bonfire. He worked hard to earn his degree in Civil Engineering in 1949. That same year, Hyatt was commissioned a reserve Air Force officer, married his high school sweetheart (Mary Lou Otts), and began living his dream of supervising construction projects, starting with a new State hospital in Terrell, Texas.

Within two years after graduation, Hyatt was assigned active duty during the Korean Conflict, initially stationed in California. He was promoted to supervisor and trainer at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, Arizona. While in California, Hyatt and Mary Lou were blessed with their first child, a son David, born on a military base in Riverside. Years later, while living in Dallas, Hyatt and Mary Lou welcomed two daughters, Linda and Cheryl.

Hyatt began his own construction and engineering company, Hyatt Cheek Builders-Engineers, at age 30. He saw remarkable success and was highly regarded among his peers. Of his many projects, the Callier Center for the Deaf and the Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas brought him much acclaim. Hyatt’s construction company contributed much to the Dallas landscape during his 40 years of business.

Hyatt and his family attended church almost every Sunday. He was a founding family of White Rock Methodist Church and served on its planning and business boards. Utilizing his construction background, Hyatt supervised the addition of a youth building, including a recreation center and gym.

Hyatt was also dedicated to the success of the Downtown Dallas YMCA. He oversaw a large renovation project that greatly improved the facility. When he was 40 years old, Hyatt resumed exercising three times a week, a routine he continued at the “Y” into his mid-90s.

Throughout the years, Hyatt remained devoted to his alma mater Texas A&M University. He funded college scholarships for many years to help Corp of Cadet students and wrote letters of support to Aggie troops deployed overseas. For his own class of 1949, he planned reunions and even learned desktop publishing to make his class’s newsletter.

Having an adventurous spirit, Hyatt planned weeks-long vacations in his RV, took his parents to Washington D.C. on their first airplane flight, and enjoyed hunting quail locally and elk in Wyoming. Hyatt also became precinct chairman in his neighborhood, enjoyed organic gardening, and learned to speak German in his spare time.

In mid-life, Hyatt became interested in rebuilding and restoring German automobiles. He founded the Dallas chapter of the Mercedes Benz club and became a national President of the organization. A few years later, he was elected president of the Gullwing club of America. While pursuing this hobby, Hyatt met Catherine Walker of Grand Prairie; they remained close companions for more than two decades.

Hyatt is survived by a number of family members, all of whom he loved, including his three children and two sons-in-law, David Cheek of Garland, Linda Cheek Heinrich and husband Randall of Sugar Land, and Cheryl Cheek Bregenzer and husband Michael of Houston; his five grandchildren, Angela Heinrich Mauney, Conrad Heinrich, Mason Bregenzer, Marshall Bregenzer and Madeline Bregenzer; and his three great grandchildren, Tripp, Clark and Lyla Mauney.

Hyatt’s graveside is scheduled for October 13th, 11:00 a.m., at Hillcrest Memorial Park.