Carey Deckard, left, is shown during the world premier of "The Alamo," starring John Wayne, who produced, directed and acted in the film. Carey Deckard, compiler and publisher of "The Legends of Lampasas: Stories about the lives of Curtis Bozarth and Sam Fowler," agreed to let me write about him only if I thought it might help floundering youth such as he was when growing up in Lampasas, and adults who might consider mentoring them.

Since Carey and I agree that studying history helps one to avoid making the same mistakes twice, I convinced him it would be helpful for the youth and adults of Lampasas to hear his story.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Carey and wife, June, since the early 1990s, when we first organized the San Antonio-Lampasas Club to bring former Lampasas residents together in the big city of San Antonio. He has been our able spokesman at the twice-yearly meetings ever since.

Carey was born in Eastland on Dec. 7, 1932, to Clyde and Lora Mae Deckard. The family lived in numerous towns in Texas and Oklahoma before finally arriving in Lampasas in 1943, where his father opened a Western Auto Store on Third Street. The family lived in the house across from the Baptist church that is now Sydna Vineyard's gift shop.

Bobbye Alexander Behlau Memories of the three years Carey lived in Lampasas are of the Boy Scouts led by Marshall Neal Rush; learning to swim in the Hancock Park pool; learning to fish, thanks to Norman Davis; learning to play football, basketball and softball from coaches such as Bozarth and Fowler; playing trumpet in the Badger Band; and attending First Baptist Church, where he was influenced by Sunday School teacher Weldon Pharr and the Rev. Mathison.

Teachers he especially remembers are Rose Swinney and Iva Lee Gibbs. Carey says they and many others were an inspiration to him to continue his education and to make the most of his life.

After graduating from Whitesboro High School in 1950, Carey moved back to Lampasas, where he got his start in broadcasting at KHIT radio. This experience enabled him later to work his way through college.

Carey and June Deckard are in front of their Lampasas home, formerly owned by Polly and Mary Powell. He remembers playing his first round of golf at Hancock Park Golf Course and enjoying dances at the Hostess House.

One highlight, Carey said, was the summer he, Don Peak, Harold Franks, Jimmie Perkins, Dickie Casbeer and Roy Oakley took a driving trip through the western United Sates.

After leaving Lampasas, he worked his way through college (Texas A&M and the University of Texas) as a radio broadcaster. He graduated from UT in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in history and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

During college Carey married June Neal, a coed at UT who grew up in Corpus Christi. He gives June credit for being a stabilizing force and giving direction to his life.

Carey feels he has enjoyed many experiences beyond his wildest dreams and has had opportunities to meet many amazing people. Roles that have given him satisfaction are in education, athletics, piloting airplanes, military service, communications, community involvement in San Antonio and Lampasas, and lastly -- and most important -- with his family.

Because of the favorable attitudes toward education that he formed in Lampasas, he became a teacher himself. He was a history instructor at USAF Officers' Candidate School at Lackland AFB in 1957, and then after receiving his master's in education administration in 1969, Carey taught courses in marketing, communications and public relations at San Antonio College, UTSA and at a number of financial institutions.

Athletics have been an important part of Carey's life. After participating in high school sports, he played and coached football, basketball and softball in military, city, church and YMCA leagues, and enjoyed playing full-court basketball for 61 years. Carey said he was deeply moved this year when his sons recognized that milestone by "retiring" his jersey at a luncheon attended by a number of his former teammates and players.

Carey's flying career also is of importance to him. At 13, he began saving money he earned to be taken for plane rides. After learning to fly in the Air Force, he continued in aviation as a civilian and gained the ratings of commercial, instrument, multi-engine and pilot instructor. In addition to regular flight activities, he also participated in numerous search-and-rescue operations and formation demonstrations for air shows with Group 19 of the Texas Civil Air Patrol.

Through the years, Carey has continued to gain experiences with a wide variety of aircraft, flying some 25 different types.

He takes great pride in his military career, which started with ROTC in college and continued at pilot training at Lackland AFB in 1957. Separated from active duty in 1959, he remained with the Air Force Reserves while serving in the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing at Kelly Air Force Base.

Then during the Vietnam War in 1968, Carey was called back to active duty as a captain in the 921st Military Airlift Group at Kelly AFB.

His total military career spanned 32 years. From 1970-1980, he was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base at Air Training Command Headquarters as a reserve public affairs officer. In 1980, as a colonel, he was assigned as the Mobilization Augmentee to the director of public affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in the Pentagon. In this position, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in January 1985 and retired from the Air Force in 1988.

From 1951 to 1986, Carey was a radio and television personality, master of ceremonies, talent for radio and TV commercials, vocalist with band and floor shows, actor in stage productions, and an actor for commercials and Air Force film productions. One exciting assignment was serving as vice president of Fess Parker's Fespar Production Co., which produced the "Daniel Boone Show" on NBC in Hollywood. He then returned to San Antonio and became director of radio and television promotion for San Antonio's World Fair, Hemisfair '68.

Another interesting period in Carey's career was the 16 years he was employed as director of corporate communications for Frost National Bank, First Federal Savings & Loan and InterFirst Bank of San Antonio. He was responsible for staging the grand openings of several major buildings in the city and a number of other financial facilities in South Texas.

Carey completed his career at the Institute of Texan Culture, where he served as director of information and later as director of production. He retired as the assistant executive director after eight years at the Institute.

Community involvement is important to both Carey and June. Desiring to have more permanent roles in Lampasas, seven years ago they bought the home of Don Peak's parents in Lampasas. Now when Don comes to visit from California, he can sleep in his own bedroom, Carey said.

The Deckards spend at least two weekends a month here, where they regularly play golf and support local tournaments. They also enjoy swimming at the Hancock Park Free-Flow Swim Pool and attend St. Mary's Episcopal Church.

For 30 years they have attended Spring Ho and class reunions. Carey brought Cactus Pryor as a featured performer to help the DRT raise funds for restoration of the Hancock Park Hostess House. Then on Veterans Day 2007, he spoke at the annual American Legion ceremony on the courthouse square.

This year, he acted as master of ceremonies for the San Antonio- Lampasas Club's "Ghosts of Lampasas County" performance to raise funds for Preservation Lampasas and restoration of the Colored School.

Carey and June are just as busy in San Antonio, where they belong to Trinity Baptist Church, Oak Hills Country Club and a number of civic, military and national organizations. But the role that brings them the most happiness is involvement with their three sons and four grandchildren. They take great pride in all their family members: sons Robert and wife Pat of Houston; Dean and wife Monica of San Antonio and his two children, Elizabeth and Richard; and Perry and wife Amy and their two children, Lee and Darla, in San Antonio.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Carey has an impish sense of humor that doesn't spare his friends from pranks and teasing. Now you fellow sufferers have lots of information to use in responding to his taunts - - and my permission to use it.

Carey would like to say, in conclusion: "I have been blessed to have led a full life which has included many challenges, stimulating and exciting events, and a wide variety of interesting people from all walks of life.

"It has been my special privilege to have met and known movie stars, statesmen, generals, prominent physicians, outstanding educators, devoted ministers of the church, well-known broadcasters, war heroes, successful authors, outstanding business people, accomplished musicians, numerous dedicated men and women of the U.S. military services, nationally syndicated newspaper journalists, recording stars, successful coaches, farmers and ranchers, corporate leaders, professional athletes, newspaper and magazine publishers, internationally known aviators and astronauts, a wide variety of engineers, and dedicated individuals from virtually every career you can think of.

"Among all these people I have encountered during my life, a number of citizens of Lampasas -- both past and present -- still hold a special place in my memory because they helped me onto the road of life. I will always be grateful."

Bobbye Alexander Behlau was born in Lampasas and graduated from LHS in 1946. After living in San Antonio for 50 years where she was an elementary school principal, she and husband, Joe, have retired in Lampasas.

She is a descendent of the Alexanders and the Davises who settled here in the 1800s. She can be reached at 512-556-4076 or at bbehlau@earth-comm.com.