Ralph Glenn

1918-2012

NEW MEXICO -- Ralph Glenn, former resident of Cisco, Abilene and Colorado City, Texas, died at the age of 93 on January 11, 2012, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Ralph was born to Essie and R.A. Glenn in Amarillo on October 28, 1918. In 1919 the family moved to Abilene, where Ralph and his younger brother “Beezer” grew up. Ralph graduated from Abilene High School in 1935 and from Hardin Simmons University in 1939. Following graduation, Ralph opened Glenn’s Furniture Store in Cisco in 1939 and married his college sweetheart, Madrine Hammond, on July 14, 1940. From 1943-1946 he served in the U.S. Air Corps, where he was an instructor and flight crew member in the Aleutians. After his return to Cisco, the couple had two daughters – Doris Lee in 1946 and Marcia Kay in 1950. From 1952-1958, Ralph was President of the Board of Trustees of Cisco ISD, being responsible for Cisco Junior College from 1952-1956. During these early years in Cisco, he was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church, as well as the Lions Club. Following the death of his father in 1957, Ralph moved his family to Abilene, where he assumed management of his father’s furniture store. The family lived in Wylie and were members of the Wylie Baptist Church. From 1961-1962 Ralph was a member of the Board of Trustees of Wylie ISD; and following a mid-life career change, he taught science and math at Wylie High School from 1962-1966. In 1966, the Glenn family moved back to Cisco when Ralph became Academic Dean of Cisco Junior College. From 1974-1976 he served as President of the Cisco Chamber of Commerce, and in 1971 he received an M.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Hardin Simmons University. Before retiring from CJC in 1988, Ralph served as the Administrative Dean for financial aid and federal programs and, finally, the Vice-President for Business Services. After his retirement, Ralph and Madrine moved to her hometown of Colorado City, where Ralph pursued his life-long passion for golf, playing almost every day until a back injury at age 85. In 2005, he moved to New Mexico to be closer to his daughters. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Madrine; his parents; and his younger brother, R.B. Glenn. He is survived by his daughter, Doris Glenn Wagner, and son-in-law, Guenter Wagner, of Corrales, NM; his daughter, Marcia Glenn, of Albuquerque, NM; his special friend, Donna Ericksen, of Rio Rancho, NM; his sister-in-law, Marcia Glenn; nephew, Mike Glenn; and niece, Margaret Glenn of Boise, Idaho; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doris and Ted Hill, and their family in Abernathy and Minnesota; and extended family in Colorado City, Burnet, and Oklahoma. According to his wishes, Ralph is being cremated and will be buried next to his wife Madrine in Cisco. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cisco Cemetery Association (PO Box 67/Cisco, TX 76437). A graveside service will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 2:00 p.m