Dear Neighbor, The Austin City Council will consider a resolution to restart a police cadet class next month on Thursday. Please email your council member and urge them to vote YES on Item 10. In response to community concerns and city council direction, the Austin Police Department has overhauled recruiting and training. Restarting cadet classes is the best opportunity to improve police… Read more »
Kilgore Award for Public Service
The Joe M. Kilgore Award was established by the Greater Austin Crime Commission to honor individuals for outstanding public service.
JOE M. KILGORE
Kilgore was a founding director and executive committee member of the Greater Austin Crime Commission. He was born in Brown County and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. Kilgore graduated from the University of Texas and its School of Law. In 1941, he joined the Air Corps and served during World War II, flying dozens of missions in the Mediterranean, and for his heroic efforts was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. Kilgore attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and later achieved the rank of major general in the Air Force Reserves.
Following World War II, Kilgore practiced law in Edinburg until his election to the Texas House of Representatives, where he served from 1947-1954. He was then elected to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding Lloyd Bentsen, and spent a decade representing the Rio Grande Valley’s 15th Congressional District before relocating to Austin and joining the law firm that later became McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore. He was a regent of The University of Texas System from 1967-1973, president of the UT Ex-Students Association in 1994-1995. Kilgore was named a Distinguished UT Alumnus in 1982 and Austin’s Distinguished Citizen in 1987. Kilgore married the former Jane Redman in 1945. The couple had four children. Kilgore passed away in Austin in February 1999.
Recipients
2019
Adm. William H. McRaven, USN (Ret)
2017
Speaker Joseph R. Straus III, Texas House of Representatives
2013
Hon. Michael T. McCaul, United States House of Representatives
2011
Adm. Bobby R. Inman, USN (Ret)
2009
Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison, United States Senate
2007
William Powers Jr., President, The University of Texas at Austin
2005
Hon. Antonio O. Garza Jr., United States Ambassador to Mexico
2003
Hon. John Cornyn, United States Senate
2001
Senior Captain Bruce Casteel, Texas Rangers
2000
Colonel Dudley M. Thomas, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety
In the News
Neighborhood Network
April 26, 2021
Dear Neighbor, On May 6, the Austin City Council will consider a resolution to authorize starting the next police cadet class. The city manager outlined the steps to restart the training academy in a blueprint adopted last month. A contract amendment with Kroll Associates Inc. to evaluate the training academy is also on the council agenda next week. In response to city council… Read more »
Neighborhood Network
April 14, 2021
Dear Neighbor, Public safety issues are a priority at the State Capitol this spring. With forty-six days left in the session, several high-profile bills are moving through the legislative process: HB 1900 (Goldman) and HB 2362 (Harris) prevent municipalities from cutting law enforcement budgets. Any local cuts in four areas (general budget, officer positions, overtime, or training budget) will result… Read more »