CHICKASHA — A memorial service for Edward Charles Hicks will be held on at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in TeAta Auditorium on the campus of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha.  

The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Sevier Funeral Home, 702 Chickasha Ave., Chickasha.

Edward Charles Hicks was born to Edward V. Hicks and Freida Hicks on June 15, 1947, in Gorman, Texas, and passed from this life on March 15, 2013, surrounded by his family.  

Nine months after his birth, Ed demonstrated the fighting spirit he showed throughout his life. He was diagnosed with cancer in one of his kidneys and had to have it removed. Throughout his childhood Ed exhibited the determination he had to improve himself and those around him. He was also known as someone who kept his fellow classmates laughing on a regular basis, another trait he was well known for throughout his life.

In 1965 Ed graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Chickasha. He stood out as a basketball player and during his senior year made the winning shot in the state basketball championship game. Ed was named the MVP of the tournament.

Upon graduation, Ed was awarded a full scholarship to play basketball at St. Gregory’s in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  He attended St. Gregory’s for two years when he decided to start his career. Ed went to work in a grocery store eventually working his way to produce manager.  

Ed eventually took a job with Merico Foods where he worked his way to the position of national sales account representative and traveled the country selling fruitcake.

Ed decided that he needed to be closer to home and took a position with Tommy Ferguson at Ferguson Pontiac in Norman, Oklahoma and worked his way to Sales Manager.  After deciding that he wanted to live in Chickasha, Ed partnered with Edwin Earl and opened Cars Etc.  He owned and operated the car lot until 1979 when the oil embargo took its toll on the economy. Ed realized that large 1970s model vehicles would be difficult to sell and started talking to a good friend about a new career path.

This discussion brought Ed into the food service industry where he would become very well known. In 1979 Ed opened and operated Taco Mayo in Chickasha. This was the fourth Taco Mayo opened and was the first franchise Taco Mayo. Over the next six years, Ed consistently operated the most efficient franchise and competed with other Taco Mayo restaurants in much larger markets for top sales. During this same time frame Ed opened two more Taco Mayo restaurants in Durant and Altus.  

In 1985 Ed sold the Taco Mayo restaurants and purchased the Sand Man Hotel property in Chickasha. During the summer of 1985, Ed with the help of his family, sand blasted, scraped and completely remodeled the old Sand Man Restaurant and on Aug. 20, 1985, Ed opened Eduardo’s in Chickasha.  

After the success Ed found with his restaurant in Chickasha, he opened a second Eduardo’s in Duncan, in March 1988.

In March of 1992, Ed ventured into the barbeque business by opening Hickies’ BBQ in Duncan, another success. In 2001, Ed opened Eduardo’s in Ada, and in 1994 founded A&E Grill in Chickasha.

After many years of success with Eduardo’s in Chickasha, Ed made the decision to build a new building, which is where Eduardo’s is located today. The new building is located where the Sand Man Hotel was built many years ago.

Ed could be seen on a daily basis in his restaurant, serving the customers he so deeply cared about. He could always be relied on for a smile, an encouraging word, or just someone who would sit down and visit with you during your meal.

Despite his fight with rheumatoid arthritis, Ed exhibited a love for life and for his fellow man that is rarely seen in anyone. He refused to allow the disease to interfere with his desire to be what he wanted. Ed taught and exhibited characteristics of honor and integrity in everything he did. He will always be known for the help he gave to those who needed it. Ed had the ability to take someone and help them achieve their dreams, as evidenced in multiple lives.  He could always be heard saying, “You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it.”  With Ed, there were no limits to what a person could accomplish. Ed frequently looked to Teddy Stallbaumer for inspiration.

Ed loved the game of golf. Ed loved being active in his community. Ed loved being involved in politics and was known for his love of his country. Frequently you would find Ed assisting our Veterans. Although Ed could not serve his country in the military due to only having one kidney, he was jealous of those who did serve and had a deep respect for each and every soldier.

Ed was a devoted family man; always making time for those he loved the most. He was extremely proud of his three children, Jason, Joe and Kate. When his children were younger, he could be found coaching their sports teams. Ed was instrumental in starting a local soccer league and throughout the year, he would ride his lawn tractor to the soccer fields to mow the grass allowing a good field for the kids to use for sports activities.

Later in life Ed found the joy of grandchildren. Ed could be found cheering his grandchildren on in everything they did, whether it be cheerleading, dance, playing football, soccer, piano, baseball, wrestling, or any other activity they chose, he was there as their biggest fan. When watching his grandchildren, Ed was also known to take along his pet zebra “spot.”

Ed’s accomplishments are too numerous to list, but a few include: the prestigious Sam Walton Business Leader award, 1999; USAO student appreciation award and USAO appreciation award for athletic support, 2001; Pride in Chickasha award, 1994; Duncan Chamber of Commerce Free Enterprise Award, 1994; and Disabled Veterans Appreciation Award, 1994, 2006 and 2013.

Ed served on the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors from 1999 to 2001. He was appointed by Governor Frank Keating to the USAO Board of Trustees and served from 1998 to 2002. In 1994, Ed was inducted into the Duncan Athletics Hall of Fame.

Always the encourager, always the motivator, always the example for each of his family members, you would never hear Ed complain about his pain, about the disease that fought against him for over 30 years. Ed leaves behind a legacy that cannot be surpassed and will be missed deeply by his family.

Survivors include:

Maggie Wallace of the home. Ed’s children include: Jason and Marla Hicks and their children Jack, Chandler and Reagan of Duncan; Joe and Cindy Hicks and their children Averie and Tyler; Sarah “Kate” Hicks and her fiancée Jeff Ferguson and their children, Jeffrey Flash Ferguson and Edie Marie Ferguson of Austin, Texas;

Ed’s siblings, Mike and Leah Hicks, of Edmond and his children Shannon (Hicks) and Adam Munger and Stephanie (Hicks) and Rafeal Denson of Dallas, Texas; Mary Lister and her children Brook and Leslie Lister and Carrie (Lister) and Chris Dwyer; and,

Ed’s step-children and grandchildren include: Matt and Kim Wallace and their children Wyatt and Aubrey and Mark and Mandi and their children Hunter and Hadley; along with many others Ed considered family.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents: Edward V. Hicks and Freida S. Hicks.

Ed’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Limbs for Life or the Arthritis Foundation.

Interment will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Chickasha, under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home, Chickasha.