Eugene A. Hickok

Eugene Hickok Obituary
Eugene A. Hickok, died at age 95 on December 7, 2023, in Deephaven, MN. Born in Tulsa, OK in 1928, Gene was the son of Eugene and Helen Hickok. He was preceded in death by Barbara Hickok, his wife of 67 years, his son Matthew Hickok, daughter Mary Catherine Hickok, and brother Dr. David Hickok. Gene is survived by six children, Elizabeth of Bozeman, MT, Allan (Gabriella) of Dallas, TX, Stephen (Nancy) of Orono, MN, Anne Hanley (Matthew) of Katonah, NY, Christopher (Elizabeth) of Wayzata, MN and Meaghan Dowden (James) of Deephaven, MN; sixteen grandchildren, and many loving relatives. Gene grew up in Minneapolis and is a graduate of Edison High School where he notably was the State Butterfly Champion. He attended St. Thomas University, received a B.S. degree in geological engineering from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. degree in geological engineering from Princeton University. Gene proudly served in the U. S. Marine Corp. (pistol champ at Quantico!), was deployed to Korea as a First Lieutenant and returned two years later as a Captain, and later served in the Marine Corp. Reserve.
Gene's foundation was faith and family. He was intellectually curious, widely read and had a wry sense of humor typically delivered with a small smile or smirk. Gene was always eager to discuss educational and professional goals with his children and grandchildren. The consummate entrepreneur, Gene's advice would typically include a path to turn any situation into a business opportunity. Gene was an ardent supporter of St. Therese Church of Deephaven, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Dakota's Children and Benilde-St. Margaret's School, serving on the boards of many of these organizations. Gene was a gifted athlete and enjoyed playing golf, duck hunting, fishing and ballroom dance.
Gene was a founding partner of Geraghty, Miller and Hickok, a New York based consulting hydrology firm. Subsequently, Gene moved with his family to Guatemala City, to work for International Development Services to develop the first large capacity wells, water storage and ground water irrigation systems in the country. Upon returning to Minnesota, Gene founded Eugene A. Hickok and Associates which employed approximately 100 engineers in three states. Gene sold his company to the Montgomery, Watson, Harza Company in 1988. Hickok and Associates developed water resources under the auspices of the World Health Organization for all Central American Countries, including Panama and Venezuela. It also served as advisor for water resource development in Antigua, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico City. Gene's experience placed him among the senior spokesmen on water resource issues. This included providing testimony in several landmark court cases relating to water and environmental law such the Reserve Mining/Milepost 7 case. Hickok and Associates was instrumental in the establishment of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District which was created to conserve the waters of the area by improving lakes, marshes and channels for water storage and drainage. Hickok and Associates served as the consulting engineers of the District for 22 years, as well as for 16 other watershed districts. With the establishment of the District, and the focus on water and sewage management, the water quality of Lake Minnetonka and environs was greatly improved. In 2014, Gene received the Lifetime Stewardship Award from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, recognizing his outstanding contribution to natural resources management. Gene authored dozens of articles and publications relating to groundwater development and resources.
Gene was nothing if not the consummate serial entrepreneur. In Indiana Jones fashion, Gene and friend Bill Campbell in the 1960s re-discovered a Spanish Colonial silver mine in Guatemala - ultimately selling the mine to the 3M Company. In the 1970s, Gene and another friend decided it was time to try their luck at cattle ranching, and bought and ran the H&H Ranch in Drummond Montana, raising over 900 head of cattle in early grass-fed style. It was a "wild west" experience for Gene's family. Gene's most beloved project was the acquisition and development of farmland in Maple Grove and Plymouth, MN. Over a 60 year period Gene developed this property into residential lots, retail, office, apartments and senior housing.
On Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. there will be a visitation at the Church of St. Therese in Deephaven, 18323 Minnetonka Boulevard, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials to the Matthew Hickok Memorial Scholarship at Benilde-St. Margaret's School https://www.bsmschool.org, or to Living Well, 1885 Upper 55th Street, E., Inver Grove Heights, MN.
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