Joseph Ezekiel Hickox

Lieutenant Colonel (USAF Ret.) Joseph Ezekiel “Joe (J.E.)” Hickox, a distinguished Air Force officer, educator, devoted family man, and lifelong Republican activist, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in Newnan, GA on December 1, 2025. He was 89.

Born March 10,1936 as “J.E.” the youngest of nine children in rural Crisp County, GA, to Efram Joseph and Annie Mae Selph Hickox, J.E. was only six months old when his father died. Raised by his resilient mother on a sharecropper’s farm, he learned early the values of hard work, faith, and service. A basketball standout and active FFA member, he graduated from East Crisp High School in 1954 determined to become a pilot despite financial obstacles. Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force, rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant as a radar operator, and used night classes and determination to earn college credit that propelled him to Florida State University. There he earned a BA in International Relations (1961), served as Wing Commander of Air Force ROTC, graduated as a Distinguished Graduate, and received a regular commission.

Commissioned in 1961 and married to his beloved Carolyn Fay Glockner on March 27 of that year. Joe earned his wings in 1962. Over a 20-year Air Force career he instructed in T-33s, T-37s and T-38s, served as a Navy exchange officer flying the T2B, qualified in carrier landings aboard the USS Lexington, flew as a communications support officer on the C-130 in Vietnam, and trained Laotian pilots in the T-28 during intense combat operations. He later served at the Pentagon, completed intensive Russian language training, a Master of Science in Soviet Area Studies from Georgetown University, and from 1971–1973 was Assistant Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Moscow, USSR during the height of the Cold War. He retired from active duty in 1978 as a Lieutenant Colonel Politics soon became his passion. In 1978 he served as county chairman for John Connally’s Texas gubernatorial campaign. That same year, when West Texas’s long-serving Democratic congressman retired, Joe entered the Republican primary—facing a young oilman named George W. Bush in Bush’s first political race. Though Bush prevailed in the primary and a Democrat ultimately won the heavily Democratic district, Joe’s campaign earned respect across the aisle. He formed lasting relationships with numerous well-known political leaders and remained a tireless Republican volunteer and strategist throughout his later life.

After a brief time as a stay-at-home dad, Joe began a second 20-year career as Senior Aerospace Science Instructor in the Air Force Junior ROTC program at North Clayton High School in College Park, Georgia, retiring in 2000. A 60-plus-year member of the Order of Daedalians, he was a charter member and led the establishment of two flights in the Atlanta area and stayed active in running 5Ks and 10Ks well into his later years.

A member of Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Douglasville, GA he was above all a family man. He and Carolyn celebrated 64 years of marriage. He was the proud father of four, grandfather of thirteen, and a mentor to countless young people.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carolyn; children, Kim Turner (Jimmy), Col. Joseph C. “Joey” Hickox (Nicki), Robert Hickox, and Karin Wieland (Brandon); grandchildren, Alison Schatz (Derek), Daniel Turner (Emily), Benjamin Turner (Delaney), Joanna Turner, Mary Moon (Hickox), Seth Hickox (Miranda), Reuben Hickox, Clara Shanazzarian (Jack), John Hickox, Jacob Wieland, Nicholas Wieland, Drew Wieland, and Aubrie Wieland; and a host of nieces, nephews, former students, and fellow servicemen who will miss his ready smile, firm handshake, and unwavering patriotism.

Well done, good and faithful servant. Blue skies and tailwinds, Colonel.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 PM in Thompkins Auditorium at Wesley Woods of Newnan, 100 Lindsey Barron Dr, Newnan, GA 30363.

There will be a private burial service held at a later date, for the immediate family, at the Georgia National Cemetery, located at 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA, 30114, United States.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org or the Daedalian’s Foundation at www.daedalians.org.