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| On Thursday, August 9, 2007,
the City of Austin presented the "Distinguished Service Award" to 14 participants
who were key players in bringing down Charles Whitman on the University
of Texas Tower on August 1, 1966. One of those recipients was Houston
McCoy, who is credited with bringing an end to the shooting by killing
the former Marine sharpshooter that left 17 people dead and 31 wounded.
Pictured in the photo to your left are Jack Moore, former Scout Executive, Ruth McCoy, McCoy's ex-wife, Monika McCoy, his daughter, and Frank Hilton, former Program Director and Camp Director for Camp Sol Mayer, who were present for the presentation of the "Distinguish Service Award" to Houston McCoy in the Council Chambers of the City of Austin. Monika McCoy had recommended to the Austin City Council that they present the awards, some 41 years after the event. |
 Police Department about September 1966. The airplane behind McCoy is the one Jim Boutwell, with Lt. Lee, flew over the UT Tower and got hit with sniper fire. The picture was taken in early September 1966. |
Distinguish Service Award being presented to Houston McCoy by the Mayor of Austin, Will Wynn, in a special ceremony to recognize the 14 key players in bringing down Charles Whitman on the University of Texas Tower on August 1, 1966. |
Houston McCoy working in old workshop. |
Picture taken in front of UT Tower in 1986 |
Story in Menard News in December 1974 |
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Houston McCoy in about 1978 |
Photo taken in 1977 or 78 in front of Menard Cabin with dining hall in background. |
Cleaning up at the swimming pool in 1986. |
Houston McCoy with catfish caught in the San Saba River in May 1976. |
Houston McCoy getting the finishing touches to the campsite latrine with Frank Hilton in May 1978. |
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Houston McCoy's passion
is flying gliders. Here he is shown with two of them being worked
on in the dining hall at Camp Sol Mayer in 1986 during the winter.
After leaving Camp Sol Mayer, McCoy flew crop dusters for a couple of seasons. |
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We want to thank Ruth and Houston McCoy, Menard, TX, for providing us with these photos. |
After
a couple of years, following the shooting, Houston McCoy resigned from
the Austin Police Department and became a flight instructor in Del Rio.
On January 1, 1975, Houston McCoy went on the payroll of the Concho Valley
Council as the Camp Ranger for Camp Sol Mayer. He worked for the Council
for 12 years, until March,1987.