Thomas Hugh Roe

Colonel Thomas Hugh Roe, USA (Ret) passed away suddenly on March 26, 2020, in Bosqueville, Texas, from a series of medical conditions attained during his military service to our country. Tom was a gentleman, a scholar, and a soldier. He was a devoted family man and a loyal friend. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Hugh K. and Jeanne Peters Roe on August 6, 1961. He graduated from Haltom High School in 1979. He attended Texas Wesleyan College and Baylor University, where he played basketball at both. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law and became a member of the State Bar of Texas. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served as a private for four months. He was selected to attend Officers’ Candidate School and, upon completion, was commissioned as a Lieutenant. Tom was committed to military service, earning the Legion of Merit (2nd Award), the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award), the Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), the Expert Infantry Badge, the Ranger tab, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault badge, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign star, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars. He earned Airborne and Ranger tabs and served multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom met Lucia Dunn in Schweinfurt, West Germany. They did the “M” thing on March 23, 1990, and began a life of adventure together. They lived all over the world, including service assignments at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk Louisiana, the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, repeated assignments to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Korea, and the Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia Beach, Virginia, where they welcomed their son, Daniel, into the world in 2001. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Tom was deployed to multiple locations globally. Prior to his retirement in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he served as the Director for the Center of Army Lessons Learned (C. A. L. L.). He served his country as a distinguished officer until his retirement at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Tom spoke in awe of his service in Arlington National Cemetery, at Ft. Myer, Virginia, where he served as the first Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). It was with great pride that he commanded America’s Finest and he was honored to be instrumental in creating the Quick Reaction Force within the Military District of Washington. Tom retired to Waco with Lucia and Daniel where he became even more active with his family and community. He reconnected with his former Baylor Basketball teammates, further strengthening their lifelong bound. NASCAR is a passion of Daniel’s that Tom grew to love as well. Fast cars, strategy, teamwork…a son teaching his father in pure joy. As a family, they enjoyed traveling to our nation’s National Parks. Tom wanted to visit all of them in his retirement. The years missed during deployments were made up with a passion and love of life and family. Tom is survived by his wife, Lucia; son, Daniel; and a host of cherished extended family, friends and fellow soldiers. We will miss his ability to teach and lead with unfaltering integrity to the high standards he asked of himself and helped others to achieve. We will miss his teachings, perfection, and his thoughtful approach to all situations from every vantage point and opinion. His openness to new knowledge, his kindness to the lesser and his unfaltering love of life. We will miss a man who was larger than life and looked up to by many. We will miss his quiet strength and unquestionable bravery. Honor Guard will include CSM (Ret) Russel McCray, Lt. COL (Ret) Mark Pearson, Cpt. Steven Brun, COL (Ret) Marshall A. Hagen, and COL (Ret) Keith Hawk. Pallbearers will be Pat Nunley, Joe Copeland, Lance Summey, Derek Rebber, Parnell McNamara, Charles Prause, Uwe Dunn, Uriah Dunn, and René Ducret. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.