Henry Louis Gaddis

Henry Louis Gaddis Jr., better known as Louis, was born in Leeds, Alabama on September 15, 1943. As the first born in the family, Louis' parents, (Henry Louis Sr. and Eva Gaddis) recognized stellar quality upon first greeting, their six-pound baby boy.

Louis' immediately evolved into the kind of son that would make any father and mother proud. In elementary school Louis served as a Safety Patrol Monitor. During those years his intelligence so impressed his teacher that they recommended that he skip the sixth grade. At the age of thirteen, he earned a spot as a member in the state-renowned Macedonia Baptist Church Quartet. For approximately five years, Louis frequently traveled around his home state performing with his church members. Even with his busy schedule, he still found time to teach his teen Sunday school class.

Louis was nicknamed "Casey" by his high school buddies, he admitted he was the "class clown", yet his school record shows he was a dedicated academic student. He was a member of the Drama Club, 4-H Club (chickens), and was a star athlete in both baseball and basketball. In fact, after he graduated from high school in 1960 at the early age of 16, Louis journeyed to Texas Western University in El Paso, Texas where he played basketball. He majored in Business and Physical Education.

At some point in college, Louis decided to go in a different direction by enlisting in the army. He went to Basic Training in Arkansas. After basic training Louis was stationed at Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas. While there, he attended the pharmacy technical school at Brooke Army Medical Center. He completed his studies in 1963.

Louis remained in San Antonio for four years. It was in his final year that he welcomed two of his greatest blessings. First, on April 12, 1965, Louis greeted his first son, Terry "Big Terry" Covington. Shortly thereafter, Jo Ann  Elizabeth Campbell, his wife of 57 years danced into his heart— literally. There remains a discrepancy as to how long the couple dated before exchanging vows, but it is certain that a judge in San Antonio married Louis and Jo Ann on October 20, 1965, just before Louis was scheduled to leave for Oakland Army base in Oakland, California. Within days, Louis and Jo Ann packed themselves in a car and headed off to start their life together. They were stationed in Oakland for only two years before Louis received orders of his deployment to Vietnam. He served in Vietnam for two years from 1967 to 1968 and from 1970 to 1971. They were stationed in Columbia, South Carolina at Fort Jackson Army Training Center between each deployment.

"Sweet Lou", as he was known to his fellow soldiers, labored as a Combat Medic on his first tour in Vietnam. Acting as a Military Advisor on his second tour, he trained soldiers on First Aid care. Louis received his greatest gift on October 14, 1968. A ray of sunshine by the name of Monica Kidal burst into Jo Ann and Louis' life.

A nice change of scenery befell Louis when in 1971 the Army transferred him and the family to Frankfurt, Germany where he served as a Pharmacy Technician. Three years later, Louis established himself at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. He spent his time there as a Platoon Sergeant,  Re-enlistment Sergeant, and First Sergeant. Eight years later, in 1982, Louis retired from the Army with twenty years of service. While active in the military he served two tours in Vietnam as an Army Medical Specialist (MEDIC) and achieved the following medals: a Bronze Star Medal; a Combat Military Badge; a Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Achievement Medal; and a Meritorious Service Medal. He completed his service as an E8 in Fort Hood, Texas in 1982.  While Louis was on active duty Jo Ann was busy receiving her Certification of Appreciation from the Department of the Army, for her own unselfishness, faithful, unfailing support, and understanding to help make possible her husband's contribution to our nation. This accomplishment for Jo Ann made Louis a very proud man (solder).

Louis immediately traveled to his current home, Kingsville, Texas, to start his month-long vacation. He" took it easy" in Kingsville and Las Vegas, Nevada. Then, it was back to the grind. Louis worked nearly a year at the Spohn Kleberg Memorial Hospital pharmacy before he became a civil servant in November 1982 with Corpus Christi Army Depot. Louis served as Work Leader until awarded his final position of Structural Supervisor. As Structural Supervisor, Louis managed thirty-two employees that repaired structural- damaged Air Force helicopters.

Louis' father, the most influential person in his life, took so much pride in his son that once every year only the two of them would take a train to see Louis ' grandparents-Horace and Ella Gaddis. This annual train ride is one of the Louis' first and fondest memories of time spent with his father. Like his father, he created all kinds of memories with his grandsons, Jalen Malik Louis Gaddis and Micah Dorian Reed.

Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Eva and Henry Louis Gaddis Sr. and his beloved sister Hilda Gaddis Smith. He leaves to cherish his memories, a loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Jo Ann Elizabeth Gaddis; Four sisters Ethel Roberts, Verna Patton, Sadye Thomas, and Ruth Stanton(Edgar); and one brother James Horace Gaddis(Betty); & 2 sons Elliot Michael Kinslow(Khalilah), Terrell Covington(Shawnisa); and his daughter, Monica Gaddis Reed(Henry); nine grand children; seven great grand children; five god children, Ashley Clack, Mark Nesby, Mike Nesby, Brandon Greenwood, Brian Greenwood; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and dear friends.