Brady (Texas) Standard-Herald, October 19, 1999

Paul A. Hernandez, 50
Vietnam veteran, dies

    Lifelong Brady resident Paul Alarcon Hernandez, 50, died Sunday, Oct. 17 at his residence after a lengthy illness.
    Funeral services under the direction of Leatherwood Colonial Funeral Homes will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the First Baptist Church in Brady with Col. Bill Libby officiating. Burial will be Thursday, Oct. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
    Born on Sept. 30, 1949, in Brady to Jose G. and Carolina Alarcon Hernandez, he married Suzanne Tisdale on April 2, 1987.
    He was a graduate of Brady High School, he attended Angelo State University and was a retired United States Marine.
    After being wounded and paralyzed in Vietnam in 1971, he eventually returned to Brady where he became a prominent figure in the local community. He was active in community affairs and served on numerous boards and committees.
    He was a member and past Master of the Brady Masonic Lodge where he was a 32nd Degree Mason, he was a Scottish Rite member and member of the Suez Shrine Temple, a past member of the American Legion and was twice Commander of the Burton Kyle McCord VFW Post #3234.
    Hernandez was very active in local schools and was a trustee of the Texas Association of School Boards for six years and was a Brady Independent
School District board member for nine years.
    He was appointed by Gov. Ann Richards to the State Job Training Coordinating Council for three years, he received a lifetime appointment by Gov. Mark White to the committee for the Accessibility for the Handicapped and was a lifetime member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Association.
    He was the recipient of several military honors including the Navy Achievement Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
    Pallbearers are Bob O'Malley, Rocky Jay, Jim Wallace, Glenn Trimble, Ron Smith and Bob Pina.
    Honorary pallbearers are the U.S. Marine Corps, Brady Independent School District board members and members of the Burton Kyle McCord VFW Post #3234.
    He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Armando Hernandez.
    He is survived by his wife, Suzanne of Brady; a son, Erik Dylan Hernandez of Brady; three brothers, Bill Hernandez of Corpus Christi, Ed Hernandez of Brady and Joe Hernandez of Burnet; a sister, Mariana Hernandez of New Jersey, and two grandchildren, Jordan Hernandez and Gavin Hernandez.
    Memorials can be made to the Paul Hernandez Middle School Memorial Fund or the San Antonio chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

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