Walter Edmund Myers

It has been pointed out that it is not the dates, it is the ‘dash’ between them; and how you lived your dash. Herewith, ‘the dash’.

Walt Myers was ‘Family First’, but succeeded in life as Mentor, Manager, Master and above all else, friend. He was born into a large, extended Myers family in Pennsylvania and once remarked that the family rented a state park for their reunion! Following high school, Walt enlisted in the United States Air Force and served three consecutive years in Vietnam as Crew Chief on the UH-1 ‘Huey’ helicopter. He told of being shot down, and then rescued by a young Army Special Forces troop, to whom he was reintroduced some 40+ years later by a mutual friend.

Having served his military time with distinction, he went into the police service, continuing to serve America for many years. He came to Boerne from Georgetown and worked with Chief Woods as a Boerne lieutenant; then was appointed Boerne Chief of Police on May 28, 1984 and served the City of Boerne until 1989. Chief Myers was instrumental in establishing a close working relationship between the Boerne Police Department and the Boerne Independent School District with programs such as McGruff the Crime Dog. He attended ceremonies at the Reagan White House in recognition of his service.

The opportunity to serve as Chief of the San Antonio International Airport police force presented itself and he served there until the community of Garden Ridge ‘hired him away’, to establish a viable force in that growing Comal County Texas community. He served at Garden Ridge from July 1997 until his retirement in July 2004. During his tenure, he established the Citizens Police Academy, which now boasts a community supportive group of 125 active graduates. They have purchased equipment in the past to include binoculars, flashlights and most recently approximately $7000 to get each officer a ballistic helmet for active shooter events.

In retirement, he didn’t slow down, sharing his knowledge and experience of and with the Veterans Administration with fellow veterans and their families. Walt served the Walton F Hoffmann Memorial American Legion Post 179, first as Judge Advocate, then as the 78th Post Commander and finally, as Commander of the 14th District, The American Legion, Department (State) of Texas.

Chief Myers is survived by his loving wife, Dana; daughters Ann Johnston (Matt) of Rockport and Allita Nicholoff of Scranton PA; his sister Roberta Kashuba and family of Pennsylvania, and brother Greg Myers and family of Georgia. His grandchildren are Sarah, Briannah and Fred; and stepson Jeff Sager. He was predeceased by the Mother of his children, Mary.