Richard L. Hoyt Sr.'s Obituary
Richard L. "Dick" Hoyt Sr.,
Captain Richard L Hoyt Sr., U.S. Army (Ret), passed away September 5, 2005 after a long and eventful life. "Dick", as he was known, was born in Houston, Texas, June 20th, 1911 son of John Franklin and Susie Ella (Hall) Hoyt.
He is survived by seven children; Dr. Richard Dodge-Hoyt of Gulfport, MS, Mrs. Suanne Demo of Henderson NV, Don Allen Hoyt of Litchfield MI, Gerald Hoyt of New Orleans, LA, Mrs. Sue Ella Harmeier of Tomball, TX, Richard L. "Rick" Hoyt Jr., of Fayetteville AR, John Hoyt of Easley, SC, one brother, Elmer "Tiny" Hoyt of East Bernard, TX, three sisters, Lilydee Grothe of Houston, TX, Ellen Darnell, Splendora, TX, Sarah Taylor, Grangerland, TX, sixteen grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, and ten great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Violet in 1997 and one brother; Clifford Hoyt.
His military career commenced with a private military boy?s school in Portland, Oregon in 1925. At age 15 he joined the Oregon National Guard, and at age 16 joined the U.S. Navy, where he was a radio operator. He also served one enlistment in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1936-1939, and joined the U.S. Army in 1940, from which he retired in 1960 and settled in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Between enlistments he served in the National Guard of Arizona, California, and Texas.
In 1970 he founded an association of former members of his WW II army unit, the 11th Airborne Division, which fought in New Guinea and the Philippines, and were the first American troops to land in Japan after the end of WW II. The association has 4,000 living members and 16 chapters around the U.S. He also founded the 11th Airborne newspaper, "The Voice of the Angels", and served as editor of the paper for over twenty years and was webmaster of the association's website until his death. They hold annual reunions in various locations. Dick was a paratrooper and a glider-trooper. He earned his first Campaign Medal (Second Nicaraguan Campaign) in 1930, where he was a Navy radio operator assigned to the Marine Landing Force who landed at Corinto, Nicaragua, to protect American lives and property during a revolution there. In WW II several more campaigns followed, and he received the Army Commendation Medal for rescuing fellow troopers from a fatal glider crash, in which he was also severely injured.
After retirement from the Army, Dick took advantage of the G.I. Bill, and started college at the University of Arkansas, as a 49 year old Freshman, majoring in Business Administration, which was of considerable help when he and his wife Violet opened their restaurant, "Suzie Wong's Rice Bowl", that they operated from 1963 to 1985.
At the same time Dick became a police officer, first as a Deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Department, and later with the Johnson Police Department. He retired from the Johnson Police Department in 1985 as Chief of Police.
Using his experience as military police and local law enforcement he established the private investigation firm of Sequoyah Investigations.
Dick was a member of the Sequoyah Kiwanis Club for 25 years, and served as Civil Defense Director of Washington County 1961-1963, and was a member of the Arkansas Restaurant Hospitality Board of Directors for several years.
He was a 32nd degree Mason, and a member of the Scimitar Temple Shriners of Little Rock from 1970. He was a Shrine Clown for over 30 years, and participated in all the parades in Northwest Arkansas and entertained at schools and hospitals. He also was awarded the honor of "oldest" Shrine clown in the region and nation for many years.
Dick participated each year for the last several years in the Senior Olympics in Harrison, Arkansas and at least one year in the national event. He won several gold, bronze and silver medals in his competitions.
He was a supporter of the Fayetteville Senior Citizens Center and the Fayetteville Public Library.
He was a member of the Razorback chapter of the Good Sam?s motor home club and was an avid ham radio operator where he held the call sign "W5RIT" and enjoyed "County hunting". Thanks to his extensive genealogy research he was able to discover many links to the family's history. He was proud of his family, the police, and the military and could remember every detail of every story from 90 years ago. We won?t forget him either.
Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 8, 2005 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with Rev. Douglas Falknor officiating. Burial will follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery with Masonic burial rights followed by Police honor guards. Pallbearers will be Dallas Hoyt, Jared Hoyt, Jackson Hoyt, Michael Benson, Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder and Johnson Police Chief Vernon Sisemore. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Northwest Arkansas Shrine Clowns, all area Police Officers, Eldon Roberts, Ron Johnson, Members of the 11th Airborne Association and Fayetteville Police Chief Frank Johnson.
Memorials may be made to the Shrine Children's Hospital or the Fayetteville Senior Center.
To sign the online guest book go to www.nelsonberna.com
Visitation will be 5:00 PM till 9:00 PM, Wednesday, September 7, 2005, with the family-receiving friends from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM.
Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville.
Visitation Date Time Wednesday, September 7, 2005 5:00 PM till 9:00 PM Visitation Location Visitation will be in the Chapel of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:00 PM till 8:00 PM Service Date Time Thursday, September 8, 2005 11:00 AM Service Location Nelson-Berna Funeral Home with Rev. Douglas Falknor officiating. Burial will follow in the Fayetteville National Cemetery
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