Dateline: November 10, 2005

Clarendon man dies following accident

By Roger  Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Residents of Donley County were shocked and saddened last week after a two-vehicle collision took the life of a Clarendon man.

According to the Department of Public Safety, William Chauncey Hommel, age 74, was traveling south on FM 1260 in his 1989 Ford Bronco and was crossing US 287 last Wednesday at about 3:05 p.m. when he pulled out in front of a Dodge pickup, which was driven by Jesus Leon of Mesquite. Hommel’s vehicle struck the side of the pickup, slid into the south ditch and overturned, and Leon’s vehicle came to a stop on US 287.

Investigators believe that Hommel simply did not see Leon as he crossed the highway.

DPS Trooper Daniel Hawthorn confirmed that there was a witness to the accident but would not release that individual’s name. Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said an employee of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad called 911 and immediately began directing traffic away from the accident.

Local law enforcement officers and emergency personnel with the Associated Ambulance Authority and the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call and quickly extracted Hommel, who was trapped in the wreckage of his vehicle. Witnesses at the scene said he was conscious and alert and was complaining of his back hurting.

Hommel was airlifted to North West Texas Hospital in Amarillo where he was later pronounced dead by Potter County Justice of the Peace Jim Tipton at 6:10 p.m.

The passengers of the Dodge pickup, Magdalera Leon, 54, of Mesquite and Monica Sanchez, 22, of Mesquite, were taken to NWTH and were treated and released. Jesus Leon was uninjured.

All occupants of both vehicles were wearing their seatbelts, and Blackburn said Leon’s airbags did deploy.

Hommel’s life was spent in Donley County; and during that time, he had been self-employed in ranching, oil and gas, and as a property appraiser.  He had been very active in the Jaycees, where he was recognized as the outstanding area vice president, the Texas outstanding local Secretary, and had received the George Wilson award. 

He was a former member of the Clarendon College Board of Regents, the Clarendon City Council, and was a member of TAAO and KAIROS.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Skelton Fellowship Class, and the Mission Committee. 

He was a member of the Clarendon Masonic Lodge #700 and the Khiva Shrine Club.

Services for Hommel were held Saturday at 3 p.m. with the First United Methodist Church filled to near capacity. Methodist pastor Tom Garmon and Martin Baptist Church pastor Darrel Burton presided. Jim Shadle and Karol Garmon provided music, and Hommel’s daughter-in-law Kathy delivered a moving eulogy.

Hommel was laid to rest in Citizens Cemetery with Masonic Rites.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; two daughters, Cindy Reid of Austin and Cathy Jo Holland and husband Dallas of Amarillo; two sons, Gene Hommel and wife Kathy of Clarendon and Frank Hommel and wife Terri of Clarendon; two sisters, Frankie Henson of Clarendon and Lois Marie Moore of Dallas; twelve grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.

The family requests that memorials be to a favorite charity.