Richard L. Hancock

Richard L Hancock, passed away, in his sleep, Friday afternoon, March 12, 2021. He was surrounded by his loving family. RL, as everyone knew him, was born, raised, educated, married, started a family, a career, and enjoyed his four grandchildren, all here in Austin. He was proud to be an Austin native.

He was preceded, in death, by his parents Bertha, and Louis Hancock, and his stepmother, Mildred Hancock, and, at 95 years old, has outlasted most of his friends.

RL is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy, from Fredericksburg, his daughter Becky Carreon and husband Robert, and his son Richard Hancock and wife Jane. He is also survived by his four loving grandchildren, Chris Carreon, Richard, Clay, and Ally Hancock.

Hancock graduated high school in 1943, and attended University of Texas. In 1944, at age 18, he joined the Army Air Corp to start flight training. Honorably discharged at the end of the war, he finished UT with a degree in electrical engineering. RL married Dorothy in 1949, and began his family. His children, and grandchildren were the apples of his eye. They all enjoyed the house on Lake Austin, boating, skiing, and fun. Upon retirement in 1987, RL and Dorothy were able to enjoy traveling, extensively, alone, and with friends.

From an entry level job with City of Austin Utilities, RL progressed through the department to become director in 1971, and retire in 1982, where he teamed with LCRA, to continue with utilities work. During his time with the city, he helped develop and execute a plan to relieve Austin of it dependence on natural gas, and move to a more diversified fuels. He severed as chairman of the Fayette Power Plant Management Committee, and as vice chairman of the South Texas Nuclear Project Management Committee. In addition, he was active in in the formation of ERCOT and was on the North American Energy Reliability Council. He expressed, often, how impressed he was with the work ethic, dedication, loyalty, skill, and professionalism of the LCRA, and Austin employees, with whom he was privileged to work.

R.L. was a great believer in physical exercise. He snow skied until he was 74, he water skied in his early life, and, above all, he played handball with dear friends until he was 87. That was only 12 years ago. He was a student of history, particularly Texas history, and especially local history. RL was a meticulous records keeper, of both paper records, from his work and his private life, and of video recordings of his family life. His survivors will forever cherish his recordings of their youth, and their children’s youths.

Services will be held Wednesday, March 17, at 3:00 pm, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752.

Anybody wishing to speak, briefly, will be allowed. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to your favorite charity, in his honor. After the services, the immediate family will be going home to grieve.