Dr. Ronald R. Hixson Passes Away at Age 80
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
Dr. Ronald Raymond Hixson, Ph. D., a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and former Board of Director of the Maverick County Hospital District and the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center in Eagle Pass, Texas, was entrusted to the Lord’s Kingdom of Heaven on Sunday, May 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas at the age of 80.
Dr. Hixson was born on January 17, 1944 in Portland, Oregon and resided and practiced Marriage and Family Counseling in Eagle Pass, Texas for many years prior to his death.
Dr. Hixson served his country in the United States Army for 15 years as a Medic and achieved the certification as an Expert Medic and was proud of being an American Veteran, belonging to the Eagle Pass Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8562 for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Herlinda R. Hixson; daughter, Cathy Velasquez; six Sons: Jeffrey Hixson, Thomas Hixson, Michael Hixson, Harvey Velasquez, Jose Antonio Velasquez, and Herman Velasquez; a Sister: Ruth Rollo and brother-in-law, Charlie Rollo; 18 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. He was deeply loved by his family, clients, colleagues, and friends and will be greatly missed by all.
Dr. Hixson was cremated pursuant to his wishes on Thursday, May 16, 2024. A Memorial Service in his honor and memory was held on Saturday, May 25, 2024 and a religious service at the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Eagle Pass, Texas with full military honors.
Dr. Hixson was a pioneer and visionary public healthcare advocate and practitioner, publishing an innovative book titled “Endangered Private Practice, Surviving Health Reform” in 2013 and many seminar manuscripts regarding public healthcare practice and reform within the healthcare industry. He also enjoyed educating and training future healthcare professionals and students, including serving as an Instructor and Adjunct Instructor at Southwest Texas Junior College for many years.
In 1999, he presented a seminar on ways of treating and combatting violence in Texas schools together with former Texas Attorney General John Cornyn and the Texas School Violence Prevention Task Force. He was an ardent advocate for collaborative community solutions concerning addressing mental health issues in Maverick County, working with the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Eagle Pass Independent School District, Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, Maverick County Hospital District, and private primary healthcare providers.
Dr. Hixson received multiple educational degrees and certifications, including a Master of Arts in Communications from California State University at Sacramento; a Master of Art in Psychology from Northern Colorado University; a Master of Business Administration from Webster University; graduate work at Cornell University in Strategic Thinking; a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Administration from Kennedy Western University; graduate course work at Capella University and Walden University; and was the first Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustee to be certified as a Healthcare Trustee by the Texas Healthcare Trustees Association.
Rest in peace, Comrade Ronald Raymond Hixson.
