Don Paul Hicks

Don Paul Hicks, Sr., of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away May 21, 2017 with his three sons by his side. Don was born May 28, 1934 in Indianapolis, Indiana. While attending Clayton High School, Don lettered in basketball and played the saxophone. Being a small, rural school, Don would shoot hoops during the game, change into his band uniform for the half-time pep rally, only to change back out of the wool uniform once the game resumed.

Don began his academic career at Franklin College as a music major. Being a jazz fan, he often stated that he wanted to be the next Frank Sinatra. After his Freshman year, Don was asked to join the United States Army to serve his country in the Korean Conflict. As a Military Police officer, he would often ferry soldiers in a jeep to the front line. Upon receiving his Honorable Discharge, Don resumed his studies at Franklin College as a Journalism and History major.

One particular summer break during college, Don worked as an ad salesman at the Indianapolis Star/News, the paper his father Ralph Hicks had been classified ad salesman at for years. Don not only found real world newspaper experience at the paper, but was also introduced to a beautiful redhead by his father. Carol Cook, his future wife, was completing an internship at the paper for her English degree at Butler University.

Following college, dad worked briefly for the Plainfield (Indiana) Messenger until he was approached by Gardner Cowles, a New York investor with development interests in the small town of Port Charlotte, Florida, about starting a weekly newspaper there to compete with the daily Punta Gorda Herald across the river. Don fell in love with the place at once, a fact that he made clear in his regular column "I Like it Here", which gained wide readership and acclaim in the community. Although gaining a name in the town for honesty, integrity, and being the only Republican south of the state line, Don knew something was missing. During a trip back to Indiana, Don visited with his long-distance girlfriend and made it clear: "I'm not going back to Florida without you by my side". After getting married in Colorado on August 26, 1961, Carol joined Don in their new hometown, serving as editor while adding three boys to the family: Don Paul Jr., Troy Emerson, then Damon Lowell. Their family and the newspaper growing, Don and his backers were approached by Thomson Newspapers, then owner of the Punta Gorda Herald, about merging the two papers. Don took the helm of the new Charlotte News Herald as publisher, in which position he served until Thomson lured him away with the promise of more work and less sleep in the frigid northern town of Chicago as manager of a region of small town papers.

This was a difficult decision for the young Mr. and Mrs. Hicks: many of their friends were also transplants from the north, leaving family to move to a small yet promising Charlotte County, where they could start businesses that would grow with the community. With no extended family in the area, this circle of friends bonded over the natural beauty of the area, hunting quail out at Babcock Ranch and the Webb area, fishing Charlotte Harbor and the Peace River, and celebrating holidays with new traditions such as Thanksgiving in the Woods.

While sorry to go, Don heeded the call to pass his knowledge onto other small town papers. Thomson's business focus was to purchase small community papers, make sometimes long overdue upgrades, and turn them profitable again. Don would work with the publishers to turn their papers around to ensure that they would be able to continue serving their communities for years to come. After serving the company in the Chicago area, Don was transferred when the children were still young to Ohio. Having grown up working on a family farm, Don wanted his sons to be raised with the same sense of freedom that comes from living in the country and responsibility that accompanies doing chores on a farm. They chose a small farm in Hartville, Ohio, where the kids were raised through high school.

Don was once again promoted within Thomson, necessitating a move back to the Chicago area until his retirement in 1992. At the time of his retirement, he had become the Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, which had him overseeing all US operations for the largest holder of small town papers in the country. Don and Carol returned to Punta Gorda to live out their retirement in their little piece of paradise on the Peace River. As they had kept in contact with all of their devoted friends over the years, it was like returning home. They introduced new traditions to replace those of bygone years, such as the New Years Eve Snow Crab Party. Don particularly enjoyed Pub Night at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, which he would frequent with several close friends. In addition to tinkering on his boats, he also was quite active in his yard, growing foxtail palms from seedlings, maintaining orchids, and enjoying the Secret Garden he and Carol would spend hours talking in. Don was engaged in many community activities, including serving as the Fundraising Chair on the Board of Governors for the YMCA of Charlotte County. He was proud that, in this role, he helped to see the new YMCA facility come to fruition. He also served on the board of Hospice of Southwest Florida for several years.

Don is survived by sons Don Paul Hicks, Jr. of Benton Harbor, Michigan; Troy Emerson of Indianapolis, Indiana; Damon Lowell of Indianapolis, Indiana; sister Linda Edmondson of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Don is also survived by his daughters-in-law and grandchildren: Peggy (Petrick) Hicks and children Sophia Rose and Cullen David; Lia (McKinnon) Hicks and children Don Andrew and Emma Jeanette; Lisa (Saloiye) Hicks and children Faith Ellen and Robert Paul; and Kimberly (McCurdy) Hicks and child Don Paul Hicks III and several nephews and nieces in law.

He was preceded in death by parents Ralph Emerson Hicks and Rose Jones Hicks Kivett; brother David Alan (Pamela Herring); as well as the love of his life Carol Lee (Cook) Hicks. They had been married 52 years when she passed in 2014.

A memorial service was held in Punta Gorda on May 27th. A casual graveside service will be held Saturday, July 15th , 11:00 am at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, 734 N. Morgantown Rd., Greenwood IN. Pastor Marc Hayden will preside. A celebration of life gathering will be held for family following the service at the home of Troy and Peggy Hicks.

In lieu of flowers, donations would kindly be accepted by the Charlotte County Family YMCA at 19333 Quesada Ave Port Charlotte, FL 33948; (941) 629 9622 in memory of Don. Please visit Kays-Ponger.com to view his memorial and share memories.