E.K. Browning Jr.

Edgar Kendrick Browning Jr. E. K. Browning Jr., 92, of Austin passed away Tuesday, February 1, 2005 . E. K. was born July 29, 1912 in Hillsboro, Texas to Edgar Kendrick Browning Sr. and Flora Turk Browning. E. K. graduated from Hillsboro High School and attended Hillsboro Junior College and the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied Pre-Med. He was selected to the first ever Texas Highway Patrol Recruit Training School instituted by the State of Texas in 1935, graduating in February, 1936. His first assignment was as a motorcycle patrolman in Wichita Falls, as there were no cars in the Highway Patrol at that time and it was not until 1939 that patrol cars were purchased. He was stationed in Vernon and Waco, before making Sargeant in 4 years in San Angelo. He was promoted to Captain 2 years later, serving in Fort Worth, Corpus Christi and Austin. While Captain in the Austin district, he also had responsibility for security of all state offices, the Capitol, the Governor’s personal security, the Governor’s Mansion, the University of Texas, and State and National Dignitaries. One of his most memorable assignments was as state security force for Lyndon B. Johnson and his ranch in Johnson City while he was Senator, Vice-President and President. He was promoted to Major and was Regional Commander of the West Texas region 4 in Midland. As dictated by state law, he retired on July 31, 1977 at the age of 65. He became the first 40 year member of the Texas Department of Public Safety to retire. After retirement, E. K. entered into Real Estate as an Appraiser and with his wife Ernestine, were partners in Browning Real Estate in Midland. At age 82, he also served as Constable, Precinct 4 in Midland. After fully retiring, he was an active volunteer at Midland’s AMOS Food Bank and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. E. K. was most recently a member of the Midland Rotary Club, Texas Police Association, St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Midland, West Texas Eastern New Mexico Police Association, & Board of Directors Midland Council on Alcoholism. E. K. was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Emma Dell Porachan, his wife, Christine Parker Browning and his wife, Ernestine Stanfield Browning. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Suzie and George Scheer of Austin, his son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Denise Eidson of Houston, his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Ken Nolte of Austin; four grandchildren, Ken Scheer of Austin, Christy Eidson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Andrew Eidson of Houston, and Jenny Campbell and her husband Wylie of Austin; and 2 great grandchildren, Sandra Scheer of Austin and Kaylee Campbell of Austin. The family will receive friends at Weed Corley-Fish, 3125 North Lamar, Austin, Texas from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, February, 4, 2005. Funeral services will be at Weed Corley-Fish at 10:00am Saturday, February 5, 2005, with burial at Cook-Walden Capitol Park in Pflugerville, officiated by Reverend Richard Edwards, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, Midland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com