Tommy Jack McMeans

Tommy Jack McMeans, 76, died Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at an Arlington hospital. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends. During his last few years he had fought bravely against heart disease, stroke, paralysis and stomach cancer.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens in Irving. Services will be officiated by his nephews, Dr. Steve McMeans and Ken McMeans. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home, 2951 S. Beltline Road, Grand Prairie 75052. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or the SPCA of Texas, Attn: Development, 2400 Lone Star Drive, Dallas, Texas 75212 or Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76103. Tommy was born in Swenson in 1937. He was raised on a West Texas cotton field in Stonewall County. During the World War II years Tommy's father was away for four years serving under General Patton. Tommy could still remember the day his father walked back into his life after a four-year absence. Tommy was predeceased by his parents and a beloved grandchild, Trey. Tommy's 43-year career as a Texas lawman included 10 years as a DPS highway patrolman, 10 years as an Ector County (Odessa) patrol captain and 19 years as a Tarrant County deputy in Fort Worth. He also served as an Irving city patrolman, a deputy sherriff in Aspermont (Stonewall County) and Abilene (Taylor County). In addition to normal duties, Tommy was for many years the firearms instructor for Odessa. He also taught an eight-hour course through Odessa College in defensive driving. In 1994, Tommy was awarded the highest certification available for a Texas peace officer when he was granted his master's certification.

During President LBJ's tenure, Tommy was assigned to the "Texas White House" during President and Mrs. Johnson's stays at the ranch. DPS also assigned him on a special security detail at the 1968 World's HemisFair in San Antonio. Tommy survived a gunshot wound to the chest while being involved in an arrest in 1972. The bullet bruised his heart and collapsed his lungs. His surgeon called his recovery "a miracle." Survivors: Wife, Jerry McMeans; two sons, Shannon McMeans and wife, Tamara, Matt McMeans and wife, Joney; two daughters, Mandy Cernosek and husband, James, and April McMeans; five grandchildren, Meaghan, Travis, Mikaela, Madison and Riley; great-grandchild, Avery; cousins, Billy Wayne and Lula McMeans and Elizabeth Ann McMeans.