Fritz Remembered
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Adkisson remembered as giving friend
From the The Lake Cities Sun, September 17, 1997
By Amy Younse
Sun Staff Writer
Although people all over the United States and even people from other countries, were saddened to hear about the death of Jack Adkisson, people right here in the Lake Cities were the ones who knew him best on a personal level.
They actually knew Jack Adkisson, whereas most people knew him by his stage name, Fritz Von Erich.
"I’ve known Fritz for a good while," said Lake Dallas Mayor Jerry McCutcheon. "He was a friend. I’d been on fishing trips with him and out to eat."
"In years past, he and his family did a tremendous amount of fund-raising for the city," he said. "He did a lot for the community, he’s going to be missed."
For instance, McCutcheon said, Jack and his sons held exhibition matches to raise money for the schools and always helped out during the senior citizen’s Christmas dinners.
Linda Sheets, a 30-year neighbor of Jack’s, said that he was the most sweet and helpful neighbor she and her husband could ask for.
"He was a wonderful and helpful neighbor," she said. "He gave my husband and I some trees that we have planted by the pool. They were Chinese Palon. Now, every time we look at them, we think of him. They are our Jack trees."
Linda said that she will be reminded of Jack for many years to come every time she sees the trees.
She also has other memories of the Adkisson family.
"One of the things I remember about him was back when I had just had my son," Linda said. "We went to church at Corinth Baptist and afterwards, I was putting my son in the infant seat. Jack just couldn’t get there fast enough to help me get him in the seat and me get in the car."
"He was just so sweet and helpful."
Linda said that her daughter also experienced the generous nature of the Adkisson family. When her daughter was editor of the high school newspaper, she had an interview with Kevin, the only remaining son of Jack’s.
"He was really helpful to her and it meant a lot to her," Linda said. "She felt like she was getting something really neat accomplished."
Art Green also had some memories of Jack.
Art said he met Jack when one of Adkisson’s sons was injured at a football game.
"He had a C.B. radio and Jack was calling for a police escort for his son," Art said. "I got him the escort."
Art said that Jack was very gracious.
The two men became good friends after the football incident.
"He was easy going and nice to talk to," Art said.
Jack returned the favor when he was there to support Art when Art lost one of his sons. He said that his son was in a fatal accident about 20 years ago.
"He came around and handed me an envelope with money in it," Art said. "When I asked him what it was for, he said it was for hospital bills and funeral expenses."
The tables turned again over the past few months and Art was the supporter for Jack. When Jack found out he had cancer, Art was in the hospital.
Jack went to visit Art and told him about the disease.
"He asked me if I believed in Heaven," Art said. "I told him that a man has to believe in something. Jack said ‘I guess I’m going to find out.’"
"I love him very much and I’m going to miss him," Art said. "We’ve been friends for a long time."
Ken Ford, another friend of Adkisson’s said that he had known Jack for quite a while and that Jack was a good friend.
"I felt like I could count on him, even though I never asked him for anything." Ford said. "I knew that if I ever needed anything, he would help me with it."
Ford said that, until recently, he raised cows on some land that used to belong to Jack. He said it is the land that Corinth is going to use for their athletic fields parks.
"I used to lease the land from him, but after years, he just said that I didn’t owe him any more money for it. I’ll still use it until Corinth puts their park there."
Ken said that Jack was always generous to a cause.
"If anybody really needed something, Jack could take care of it," Ken said. "He was kind of gruff, so you had to get to know him. But once you did, he was very generous."
Ken said that Jack had dealt with his illness and talked to all of his friends about it.
"He had a rough time, but when it came down to it, he was ready to go," he said. "He had no regrets."
Ken, like many other friends and acquaintances of Jack Adkisson’s, said that he will always treasure Jack’s memory.
