Eula "Sis" Lea Beck

Eula L. “Sis” Beck has been an active supporter of Central Texas Communities in Bell, Coryell and Williamson counties all her life. She has been dedicated in the areas of the military relations, business, literacy, education, and charitable causes. Raised just south of Killeen on a ranch near Maxdale during the Depression, she married her high school sweetheart, Bernice M. “Bernie” Beck just before he deployed to the WWII European front. Her nickname is a common name for the oldest sister in a family, as Sissy or Sis.

Early Schooling - Sis’ dad, John Hunt, moved the family to a Killeen School District location, when she was about 8. Even though he was on the Board of Oakalla School, he believed they would get a better education in the Killeen School District, Her father had to work in the fields and was only allowed to go to school for one day, so he valued education highly. Sis graduated from Killeen High School.

Entrepreneur -- Sis is also a successful businesswoman in her own right. She owned a local TV Station in Killeen in the 1980’s, managed many rental properties and has been on the Board at Union State Bank since 1989. She personally established the Killeen branch of USB, and became Chairman of the Board of Union State Bank in 2003.

Military Relations – After Sis graduated Killeen High School and began her working career just before WWII at Camp Hood to support the war effort. She continued to work on post until the birth of their daughter Coleen in 1948. In 1959, she took a position as school Secretary at West Ward Elementary until she returned to work at Fort Hood in Ordinance at the Army Air Base there, from 1966 until 1970.

In 1946, Bernie had returned from WWII and began work at First National Bank under President Roy J. Smith, who was also Civilian Secretary to the Army under Truman & Eisenhower administrations. Roy J. enlisted the Becks and others to begin a long tradition of Central Texas citizenry’s involvement with ensuring that Camp Hood became a vital force in the Army arsenal and to ensure that Central Texas got the stipend for its military students. Bernie and Sis traveled with key local business and education leaders regularly for many years to Washington DC and engaged in such efforts as upgrading from Camp Hood to designation as Fort Hood, and to add more divisions in preparation for the Korean War in 1951. In the late 50’s and 60’s, Sis and Bernie went with a Central Texas contingent of folks who repeatedly took Clem Mikeska’s BBQ pits to the Congressional Cafeteria for the famous Annual “Texas Redneck Shindigs”. They had baby armadillo races and music by our local Congressman Marvin Leath & other ‘musicians” from the House. The Becks also held regular Fish Frys for Army personnel on their ranch near Florence from the 1960’s though the 1990’s. The Killeen Garden Club reached out to the military spouses; and Sis chaired a committee to ensure handicapped children received services in the KISD, which included all of the Fort Hood military children at that time. She kept books for the USO for 20 years, among many varied volunteer efforts.

The development of the close relationship with the leaders of the post has been key to Central Texas’ prosperity. Fort Hood continues to be unique among Army bases as a model for close ties to business leaders and the surrounding communities. As a former Army spouse, Sis is sought out today by Army spouses to counsel about their mutual experiences and treasures her numerous military friendships. Today, she regularly takes part in the AUSA Adopt-A-Unit program with the 4-9 CAV Battalion, as well as the commanding Generals’ “Good Neighbor” program activities, an honor bestowed upon her husband in as the first co-recipient in 1960. The main gate of Fort Hood was dedicated “Bernie Beck Gate” in 2009. Mr. Beck always involved Mrs. Beck in as many of his activities as possible.

Library Development - In the 1960’s, Sis began volunteering at the Killeen Library because she noticed that her niece had to travel the 20 miles from Florence to complete her schoolwork. Sis spearheaded the effort to get a bookmobile and then a Library building in Florence. The library was named for her in 2008. The buildings were initially supported by local donations and she wrote grants, hired employees, got her Librarian certification, and even carted in wood for the heater. Thereafter, she was instrumental in getting small town libraries set up in Leander, Liberty Hill, Salado, Harker Heights and Hutto. She held offices on the Library Councils for Bell and Williamson counties and chaired committees. In 1980, Sis received the International Reading Association Literacy Award from Bell County recognizing her efforts to bring libraries to Central Texas.

Higher Education Development - In the 1960’s, the Becks began to work with local citizenry to bring higher education to Central Texas. Neither of their families had been able to afford to send them away to college and they felt that if the area offered a local college education, it would greatly enhance the quality of life and further contribute to area prosperity. The culmination of forty years of fundraising parties and other efforts have brought Central Texas College complex in the 1970’s and Texas A&M Central Texas to fruition in 2012.

Here follows a partial list of Community Organizations:

•Citizen’s Advisory Board of the American Educational Complex (part of Central Texas College) 1970’s

•Project director of DATUM Civic Group to establish a library for American Technological University (precursor of CTU, Tarleton and TAMU-CT), 1970’s

•KNCT, the local Public TV operated by CTC - Charter member of the Community Advisory Board. This eventually led to her owning her own local TV Station Channel 68, from 1984-89.

•Central Texas College foundation Board 1995-present

•TAMU-CT Foundation Board. 2008-2011

•TAMU-CT President’s Advisory Council 2011-present

•USO volunteer bookkeeper – 20 years

Chairman of the Board of Union State Bank-

Throughout her career, Sis Beck has continued to volunteer on literary, education and children’s boards as well as attending military activities that impact the quality of life in Bell, Coryell and Williamson counties. She came on board Union State Bank in 1989, established the branch in Killeen, and succeeded Mr. Beck as Chairman of the Board in 2003. Sis continues to work daily at the Killeen branch and, along with her daughter who served as President/CEO until 2017, has expanded the bank and added six more branches, for a total of 4 in Bell County and 4 in Williamson County. USB’s mottos are, “Our Family Bank is Your Family Bank”, “Where People Make the Difference, and “Think Global, Act Local, Bank Local. She is involved with all the Chambers Of Commerce and other organizations in the eight Bell and Williamson County locations of her family owned independent community bank. She also maintains a close relationship with USB CD customers and assists them with their rates.

Following is a partial list of awards:

2020. Governor’s Yellow Rose of Texas Award – Texas Governor’s recognition of her

outstanding community service

2019. Warrior Legend Award -TAMUCT Award to Beck Family – permanent display in Beck

Family Foundation Building

2018 Boy Scout Community Leader Award

2017 Citizen of the Year Award - Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce

Fort Hood Commanding General’s Special Marshall. Killeen Downtown Christmas

Parade

2016 National Mounted Warfare Museum Distinguished Community Leader Award

Texas A&M Central Texas Library- Permanent Historical Display, “Sis Beck TAMUCT Legacy Wall”

2015 KISD Distinguished Alumni Award

2014 -15 AUSA BG James I. King Award – Member who Contributed most to the Advancement of Chapter in the Program Year - Union State Bank

2012-2018 Certificate of Appreciation from Military Child Education Coalition -MCEC

2012 Order of the Spur Award, 1st Cavalry Division, for service to soldiers

2008 Florence Public Library dedicated as “Eula Hunt Beck Library”

2006 Killeen City Council Appreciation Award

2006 Patriot Award for Service to soldiers – Fort Hood Command

2005 Texas Girl Scouts “Woman of Distinction” Award

2004 First “Debutante Woman of the Year” for the Greater Killeen Area

1996 Golden Deeds Award (Joint Award with BM Beck) - Killeen Exchange Club

1995 Community Builder Award - Killeen Masonic Lodge No 1125, A.F. & A.M.

1987 Silver Good Citizenship Medal - Heart of Texas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution for notable services on behalf of our American principles.

1983 Citizen of the Year Award --Florence Chamber Of Commerce

1980 International Reading Association Literacy Award & Bell County Council- for services promoting literacy and establishing libraries in Central Texas

Various Joint Awards with Bernie M. Beck

Mrs. Beck passed away June 29, 2025 in Killeen.

Sis is survived by her daughter Coleen Beck of Austin; brother-in-law, TE(Margaret) Beck of Killeen; nieces, Sherrie(Paul) Broyles of Cherokee, Ann Hunt of Katy, Becky(Billy) Bartlett of Gatesville; nephews, Ken(Brenda) Ray of Salado, Hap(Pam) Ray of Gatesville, Steve(D’Ann) Beck of Killeen, Garry(Kim) Ray of Gatesville, Randy Ray of Houston; and a host of great nieces and nephews; several great-great nieces and nephews.

Sis is preceded in death by her husband, Bernice M. “Bernie” Beck; her parents, John and Zell Hunt; brother, John Ray Hunt; sister, Dorothy Reavis; nephew, Eugene Reavis; niece, Connie Hunt.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 3 from 1:00 PM until the time of the funeral service at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church Killeen. A private burial will follow.

Honorary Pallbearers will be TE Beck, Steve Beck, Ken Ray, Jay Walker, Curt Gaines, Steve Starnes, John Norman, Bill Kliewer, Bob Ragan, and John Cauthen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sis' name to the Killeen Food Care Center at https://www.foodcare.org., or First Baptist Church of Killeen, Mounted National Warfare Museum at the Bernie Beck front gate, Fort Cavazos, Texas, Eula Hunt Beck Florence Public Library and the Maxdale Cemetery Association.