Leslie Howard "Les" Whitlock

1933 - 2016

PSJA-ISD - Leslie Howard "Les" Whitlock was proud to have been born and raised in San Juan, Texas by Pioneer farmers, who came to Hidalgo County in 1911, his parents L. H. and Florence (Claycamp) Whitlock, who prayed every night for better weather for their groves and crops, but who praised the Lord for whatever he gave them, realizing that, after all is said and done, "Its a Good and Loving God who is in charge"!

Les married his PSJA High School sweetheart & "Love of his Life" Beatrice "Bea" Gross; and after Graduating from Texas A & I University in Kingsville with a BS in Agriculture and Minor in Science, returned to his beloved Valley to be a farmer, just like all Whitlocks before him had been. But God had another plan.

Due to an unrelenting drought, Farm on weekends @ 2801 N. Raul Longoria Rd in

San Juan, and to support his 2 daughters and a son, teach elementary school

students about science and how to become educated farmers, as 4-H leader,

miles away at LaVilla ISD. He also coached football, baseball & track for 15

years in the little farming town, where his former students today tearfully recall

how he mentored them, tutored them and encouraged them, just as PSJA had

done for him and Bea. During summer vacation, Les worked as a Head Ginner

@ the Farmers Gin Coop, which, to help San Juan farmers market their cotton,

his father, 30 years earlier, collected money, ridden the train to San Antonio,

bought the gin stands, and returned them to San Juan to build the gin.

After receiving his Masters in Education Administration and Minor in Agriculture,

Les became Assistant Principal @ his alma matter, PSJA High School,at that

time the school districts only high school, where PSJA wrote "Mr. Whitlock is

devoted to the cause of education and is convinced that a more nearly perfect

society is brought about through education.", as he had experienced helped &

seen happen at the tiny little LaVilla Independent School District. At PSJA High

School Whitlock was responsible for scheduling approximately 1600-2000

students and 100-115 teachers plus helping with student discipline. Bea says

that Les "loved his 3 kids unconditionally and was a good father to them."

Through his passion for hunting and fishing and BBQing for the Hidalgo County

Beef Syndicate, Sheriffs Posse, PSJA school events, community work with the

Rotary Club, "neighbor helping neighbor"! Thats he way Les and Bea taught their

children to be responsible citizens and give back to the community. Thats the

way the Valley was in the 1970's.

In 1975, as his fathers son, Les calling was to return to Agriculture to advocate

for the RGV's Citrus Industry as President of the Texas Valley Citrus

Committee; overseeing up to $1.3 Million to market growers fruit throughout the

world and fight Washington D.C. and Austin bureaucrats & political leaders for

improved public policies for valley agriculture. His leadership and

accomplishments were acknowledged when Les was named '"King Citrus" of the

Texas Citrus Fiesta in l983, shown in the photo; joining other notable honorees

such as US Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Jr, John Shary & Others. He joined the

ranks of Glen R. Roney; Congressman Kika de la Garza and Charlie Rankin

when he was awarded the Scott Toothaker Award by the International Produce

Association; for his work and success in improving things for Valley growers,

shippers and the economic development of agriculture.

Once again God and weather intervened in his life in l990, when two freezes decimated the valley

citrus industry and Les returned to PSJA as Assistant Principal of Alamo Middle

School, where he served until retiring in 2004.

On August 7, 2016, Bea, his devoted wife of 64 years, heard the Lord's whisper

that she, as never before, should stay that night at his bedside. As she lovingly

& alone with him, held his hand, @ 5:07PM, As he had always been an eternal

being, Les breathed his last breath here on earth, and went home to be with his

heavenly father, the Lord Jesus Christ & entered eternal glory. He was 82 years

old, having been born in San Juan, Texas on Nov 17, 1933. He was a devoted

husband; loving, caring and compassionate father, grandfather, brother, uncle

and cousin; a professional educator dedicated & determined to improve the

quality of life of his students and future generations; and a man whose farmers

heart and soul never forgot where he came from, "The good soil, water and good

people of San Juan, PSJA & the Rio Grande Valley of Texas"!

Leslie Howard Whitlock was preceded in death by; His parents, Leslie H.

Whitlock and Florence E. (Claycamp) Whitlock; Grandmother Celia Guildehaus

Claycamp ; His brother, James Harold Whitlock; his Sister Evelyn Whitlock

Conger; and Baby Granddaughter Tanya Michelle Houts.

Survivors include:

His wife: Beatrice (Bea) Gross Whitlock;

Children: His Son, James Thomas Whitlock and wife Cheri Whitlock; His two

Daughters, Karen Houts and husband Mike Houts; Kathy DeBerry and husband

Curtis DeBerry;

Surviving Sister{ Mrs. Joy Lynn (Whitlock) Knapp and husband Spencer

Knapp;

Grandchildren: Thomas Ryan Whitlock, Tanya Renee Whitlock; Kristen & Mark

Ray; Kara & Kiel Freeman; Kasey and Ryan Struzyk, Hunter DeBerry, Drew

DeBerry, Chantel DeBerry, Nicole DeBerry

Great Grandchildren: Bailey Whitlock; Bryce & Kate , Kylie

Nephews: Ronny Joe Whitlock and wife Anna Whitlock, Dr. Spencer Darren

Knapp and wife Linda Knapp;

Nieces: Angela (Angie) Kay Whitlock Campbell and husband Terry Campbell;

Marcia Lynn Whitlock Mullins, Joy Lynn Knapp Larson, Stephanie Dawn Knapp

Hubbard and husband Mark Hubbard;

Grand Nephews: Ronald James Whitlock, Edward Jackson Whitlock, Jeffrey

Layne Campbell, Brandon Anthony Mullins, John Emory Larson, Dales Austin

Parkins, Walker McCloud Knapp, Colton Thomas Hubbard, Corbin Plumlee

Hubbard;

Grand Nieces: Lauren Suzanne Campbell Yacoob, Marci Joy Mullins Johnson,

Avery Leigh Larson, Katelyn Joy Knapp Lee.

Great Grand Nephews: Elijah Noe Whitlock, Benjamin Amil Yacoob, Alexander

Jeffrey Yacoob, Jaxon Anthony Mullins, Brady Bishop Mullins, Ayden Parkins,

Kyle Parkins

A memorial will be held on August 20, 2016 @ 1:00PM @ 2219 Blue Jay Way;

Pattison, Texas 77423 (West of Houston on I-10) Phone: (956) 458-3608

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the Rio

Grande Childrens Home; 3780 N Bentsen Palm Dr. Mission, Tx 78574