Cecil Milton “C.M.” Crawford Jr., 91, of Lampasas, died peacefully Feb. 27, 2026 in the home he was restoring.
Visitation will be held at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel on March 6 from 10-11 a.m. Graveside services will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas at 11:30 a.m.
C.M. was born on Oct. 7, 1934, in Athens, Texas, to Cecil Milton and Mary Caldonia Sawyer Crawford.
He grew up in Athens and attended Texas A&M University where he was a proud graduate of the Class of 1956.
He started his distinguished military career with the U.S. Army in 1956, receiving a commission of lieutenant in infantry. He then attended basic infantry officers’ course, followed by airborne (jump) school in 1957. Early assignments included duty as a reconnaissance platoon leader in the 1st Airborne Battle Group, 505th Infantry; troop executive officer in the 3d Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Cavalry, USAREUR: aide-de-camp to CG, 100th Division (Tng.); S3 air and commanding officer, Troop A, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron 9th Cavalry, and as aide-decamp to CG 1 Corps (GP), Korea.
Upon his return to CONUS in 1964, he attended the Armor Officer Career Course, followed by an assignment in Vietnam as an armored cavalry troop advisor (M-113). In 1966, Lt. Col. Crawford served as the project coordinator and briefing officer for the TANKANTITANK study, Combat Developments Command.
After graduating from the Command and Staff College in 1969, Crawford returned to Vietnam and commanded the 3d Armored Cavalry Brigade Advisory Detachment. In August 1971, he became a Department of the Army staff officer and served in the Unit Training and Readiness Division, Operations Directorate, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations.
Crawford’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with OLC, Bronze Star Medal with OLC, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with OLC, Combat Infantry Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Army General Staff Identification Badge, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and Armor Badge.
Lt. Col. Crawford was selected to attend the Army War College in 1976, but chose to retire on Jan. 31, 1978, after 20 years, 1 month and 16 days of active Army duty.
He then served in various positions in the communities where he lived. He was president of the Lampasas Chamber of Commerce as well as the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce. C.M. loved being involved and giving back to various organizations and charities. He was also a Mason, an author and a history lover.
He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia Ann Crawford; his son Milton Crawford; and a cousin who was more like a brother, John Sawyer.
C.M. is survived by his son Robert Wells Crawford, and daughter-in-law Dora and husband Lonnie; grandchildren Crystal Crawford and husband Shawn Miller, Robert Crawford Jr. and wife Rebecca, Brandon Crawford and wife Eveanna, Casey Gordon and husband Donte, Taylor and Caitlyn; and great-grandchildren Phallon, Emily, Paul, Alex, Matthew, Adam, Paxton, DJ, Gunnar, Emma, Adiel, Mateo, Amelia, Karly, Sofia, Alivia, Ariya, Mia, Kreson and Kaisley.
