H.R. No. 107
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Hockley of Dallas, a
Holocaust survivor who distinguished himself through his exemplary
service to his fellow citizens, passed away on November 8, 2023, at
the age of 98; and
WHEREAS, Born as Rudolph Martin Hockenheimer on October 17,
1925, Ralph Hockley grew up in a Jewish household in Karlsruhe,
Germany; after Adolf Hitler rose to power, he and his family sought
refuge in Marseille, France, only to once again find themselves
under threat when the Nazis invaded France in May 1940; Mr. Hockley
was targeted for being a German immigrant and ultimately expelled
from school, while his father was arrested and held in various
internment camps; and
WHEREAS, Unable to return to school, Mr. Hockley used his
German, English, and French language skills to become an
interpreter for the American Friends Service Committee, a
Quaker-run organization that helped refugees to escape Nazi Germany
and occupied France; Mr. Hockley went on to use his connections to
the Quakers and the U.S. Consulate to secure visas for himself and
his family; after a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the
Hockleys arrived in New York on June 30, 1941; and
WHEREAS, On the day he turned 18 years old, Mr. Hockley
enlisted in the U.S. Army, and he was eventually deployed to Europe
for assignments in port security and counterintelligence; in May
1946, he concluded his active duty service at the rank of sergeant
and remained in the army reserve; he subsequently earned a
bachelor's degree in Soviet studies from Syracuse University before
returning to active duty during the Korean War; he served in seven
campaigns in Korea, including as a forward observer for French
United Nations forces during the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge; in
recognition of his valorous actions in that war, he earned a Bronze
Star Medal with a "V" device, and he continued his career in
U.S. intelligence in West Germany until 1981; he accepted the
Legion of Honour, France's top civilian honor, in 2021; and
WHEREAS, From an early age, Mr. Hockley actively sought out
service opportunities in a number of organizations, including the
Free French youth association and the United Nations Appeal for
Children; for more than 70 years, he was a member of the Reserve
Officers Association of the United States, in which he held various
offices; he further served as president of the San Francisco branch
of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and as a
chapter president of the Korean War Veterans Association; in 2000,
he published a book about his military career and his experience
living in Nazi Germany, Freedom Is Not Free; he resided in the
Dallas area for a decade before his passing, and he had recently
begun sharing his story with visitors to the Dallas Holocaust and
Human Rights Museum and with other adult and student groups; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hockley met his first wife, fellow Holocaust
survivor Eva Frankel, in Oakland, California, and the couple shared
in the joy of raising two children, Clifford and Denise; after her
death in 1983, he was fortunate to find love a second time with the
former Carolyn Glover Harris, his wife of nearly four decades; he
was blessed with a blended family that included three stepchildren,
Kris, Heidi, and Kirk, as well as many grandchildren,
step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, After bearing witness to one of the darkest chapters
in history, Ralph Hockley courageously stepped forward to serve his
adopted country and to defend the cause of freedom, and those he
leaves behind will forever find inspiration in their memories of
this extraordinary man; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of
Ralph Hockley and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, Carolyn Glover Hockley; to his children,
Clifford Hockley and Denise Hockley; to his stepchildren, Kris
Harris, Heidi Hargis, and Dr. Kirk Harris; to his grandchildren,
step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and to his other
relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ralph
Hockley.
Johnson of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 107 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on December 5, 2023.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House