James Ray Hildebrand

Former Live Oak mayor, San Antonio Police Detective and District Attorney Investigator James Ray Hildebrand died on Friday, July 23, 2010, in his wife’s arms at Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to his wife, Suzanne, he was surrounded by his beloved nurse, Lisa Montgomery, and his treasured doctors, Gregory Buser and William Mallott.

Born Dec. 15, 1939, he was preceded in death by his parents, Aline Merrell Hildebrand and James H. Hildebrand; brothers, Donald Sherman Hildebrand and Wayne Daniel Hildebrand; and sister, Rose Hildebrand Anderson.

He attended East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., and Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette on football scholarships. Fondly known to his friends and colleagues as Ray Hildebrand, he joined the San Antonio Police Department in 1961 and proudly served the citizens of San Antonio until his 1988 retirement. He spent 17 years of his career as a robbery detective, and during that time was assigned as bank robbery liaison to the FBI. He was one of the first five officers from SAPD to attend the FBI SWAT training program. He was also a member of the San Antonio Police Panthers semi-pro football team, playing his last game at the age of 40.

Upon his retirement, he successfully ran for Live Oak, Texas, city council and was elected for two terms as a councilman and an additional two terms as mayor. He arranged for the first St. Phillips College campus in the town, and was instrumental in the formation of the Northeast Partnership, which has led to the development of the forum and other important businesses in the area.

While serving the citizens of Live Oak, Texas, he was elected president of Region VII, Texas Municipal League, and also served as a board member of the Texas Municipal League. In 2005 and 2006, he chaired the Live Oak City Charter Review Committee. In 1999, he joined the staff of then newly elected District Attorney Susan Reed as criminal investigator, a position he held until he suffered a stroke on April 16, 2008.

Ever the consummate public servant, he continued to serve the people of San Antonio and outlying communities even after his stroke, by allowing his story to be told. That story, featured prominently on KSAT 12 news, helped to shed light on the fact that stroke victims like him had no crucial immediate, emergency care in San Antonio because local hospitals had a stroke protocol in place. In fact, Mr. Hildebrand had to be airlifted to Austin, Texas, to receive care shortly after the suffered the stroke two years ago. That has all changed now. He was also the subject of a regular San Antonio Express news column (blog) written by his wife, who has become a leading local stroke advocate.

Mr. Hildebrand served 20 years in the U.S. Army and Texas Army National Guard. He graduated from officer candidate school and served as commander of the National Guard unit in Kerrville, Texas.

He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne; son, Ashley Harris Hildebrand; and grandson, Lance Hildebrand.

Services were held on July 27 at the Porter Loring North Chapel in San Antonio, Texas, with the Rev. Odis Doyal of Divine Savior Lutheran church officiating. He was entombed following the service at Sunset Memorial Park on the Austin Highway.

Pallbearers were retired DPS Corporal/retired Comal County Fire Marshal Lin Manford, retired Live Oak Police Chief Mark Jackley, former U.S. attorney/Assist District Attorney Bill Blagg, retired SAPD Officer/Senior District Attorney Investigator Mike Beers, KSAT News Anchor Steve Spreister, and former Live Oak City Council member Roy Schauffele. Honorary pallbearers were Mark Hildebrand (nephew), Popcorn Scaife and the Bexar County District Attorney Criminal Investigators.