The Whitewright Sun
Thursday, March 28, 1929
pg. 4

ECHOLS FUNERAL HELD SUNDAY AT VAN ALSTYNE
Van  Alstyne - "W.L. Echols gave his life to protect the property of Van Alstyne citizens," J.D.L. McKinney said in eulogizing the veteran peace officer at funeral services held in the First Methodist Church here Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Echols, 67, city marshal here for many years, died Saturday morning in a Sherman hospital from wounds received Thursday when he was shot by  a bandit.
Nearly 3,000 people attended the services, believed to be the largest number of people ever to be present on a similar occasion in this community.  Almost 540 automobiles brought the attendants from all parts of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.
Mr. McKinney was a boyhood friend of the deceased and referred to his years of intimate friendship with the man whose virtues he extolled in a talk during the services.
"Rock of Ages" was sung by a quartet composed of Rev. C.O. Hitt, Fred Cunningham, W.C. Hartwigh and L.C. Hartwig.  Rev. A.A. Kidd, pastor of the Methodist Church, gave a scripture reading and the quartet sang, "Jesus Savior, Pilot Me."  In reading the obituary, Rev. Mr. Kidd said that Mr. Echols was born January 3, 1863 in Collin County, a few miles south of Van Alstyne, where he served for 46 years as a peace officer, filling the positions of deputy sheriff, constable and city marshal.  He was married September 12, 1906, to Miss Esther Keith.  He had been a member of the Methodist Church since August 1905, and of the Knights of Pythias since 1899.  The pastor remarked that the large attendance at the services was a "fitting mark of respect and an indication of the large number of friends who held Mr. Echols in high esteem."   Rev. J.F. Archer led in prayer.
Following Mr. McKinney, Rev. C.B. Fielder of Farmersville, former pastor of the Methodist Church here, spoke, referring to Mr. Echols as a "fearless, honest, conscientious citizen, worthy of the honor and respect of his many  friends and the citizenship of Grayson County.
At the conclusion of the services the quartet sant "Abide With Me."  Interment was in the Van Alstyne Cemetery.
Mr. Echols is survived by his widow, Mrs. W.L. Echols; 2 sons, W.L. and Keith Echols, students at Teachers' College, Denton; and 4 brothers, F.M. Echols, mayor of Whitewright; Fred Echols, Van Alstyne; Walter Echols, teacher in the State College at Stillwater, Oklahoma; and A.O. Echols, Ft. Worth,


Van Alstyne Leader
March 28, 1929

W. L. Echols Passes To His Last Reward

The funeral of W.L.Echols, 67 years old, who died at 2:45 Saturday morning in the Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, as the results of being shot Thursday morning by highway men while on duty, was held Sunday afternoon at the First Methodist Church.
Rock of Ages was sung by a quartet consisting of Rev. C.O.Hitt, Fred Cunningham, W.C.Hartwig and L.C.Hartwig. Rev. A.A.Kidd pastor First Methodist Church read the scripture reading. The quartet sang 'Jesus Saviour Pilot Me', Rev. A.A.Kidd read the obituary in which he stated Mr. Echols was born Jan. 3 1863, in Collin county a few miles south of Van Alstyne. The greater part of his life was spent in Van Alstyne and he served forty-six years as a peace officer, filling the positions of Chief of Police, Deputy Sheriff, City Marshal and Constable. He was married Sept. 12, 1906 to Miss Ethel Keith. He had been a member of the Methodist church since Aug. 1905 and was a member of the K. of___ Lodge since 1899.  Rev. Kidd also stated that the large attendance at the funeral was a fitting appreciation of the large number of friends __ Echols had.
Rev. J.F. Archer led in prayer.
J.D.L.McKinney made a splendid talk in which he referred to his early friendship with Mr. Echols, and __heed extensively on Mr. Echols as a true friend that could really be depended on, and called attention to the fact that Mr. Echols gave his life protect the property of the citizens of Van Alstyne.
Rev. C.B.Fielder, pastor First Methodist church of Farmersville, and a former pastor of Mr. Echols, liked referring to Mr. Echols as a __arless, honest, conscientious citizen, and quoted that no "Greater love hath no man, than that he lay down his life for a friend."
The quartet sang "Abide With Me". Interment was in the Van Alstyne Cemetery.
Mr. Echols is survived by a wife, of Oklahoma City, two sons, W.L.Echols Jr. and Keith Echols, students in the North Texas State Teachers College, Denton; four brother, Walter Echols, teacher in the University of Oklahoma, Stillwater, __; Fred Echols, Van Alstyne, A. Echols, druggist of  Fort Worth; Mack Echols, Mayor of White___.
It was estimated that between 2500 and 300 people attended the funeral and that it was the largest attended funeral ever held in Van Alstyne.
A count was made of the automobiles parked near the church during the funeral and there were 432 autos.
Among the out-of-town people attending the funeral were:
From Kaufman - Mr. and Mrs. Joe Keith and family, and Menard Keith.
From Dallas - Miss Jessie Keith, Mr. and Mrs. Gus W. Thomasson and family, Jack Swindle, Mr. Lawson, Mr. Carmickle, Mr. Gray.
From Sherman - Frank Reece, C.B.Randell, John Davis, Mr. and Mrs. T.B.Massie, Mr. and Mrs. T.O.McDonough, Mr. and Mrs. Lee McNeeley, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Selby, Tom Smith, N.B.Ledgerwood, Arthur Vaughan, Joe Riddle and sons, Will Leslie, Dr. Stout, Mr. and Mrs. Wood, Mrs. J.D.Gathrright, Mr. and Mrs. Less Gathright, Jo Cox, Mrs. Howell, John Howell.
From Howe - Frank Thompson, G.F.Blackburn, Eurey George, O.L.Simmons, Hugh McCord, E. Reaser, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Johnson.
From Anna - Mr. and Mrs. John W. McKiney, Ben L. Shirley, L.Cox, A.Shirley, Rev.D.T.Knight, Jim Reed, Fritz Wilkey, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. Hamp Lewis, John Hendricks.
From Denton - Dr.L.R.Marquis, Dr.W.W.Cook dean of men, and J.B.Reed, coach of North Texas State Teachers College, students of the college were: Leroy Crabtree, Alan Malone, Clay Rice, Osco Cross, Charles Douglas, Mayne Terry, Bell Crawford, Bill Cox, Tom Howarth, Chester Plumblee, Jim Bray, Clyde Shaw and Mr. Jones. These were associated with W.L.Echols Jr. in athletic work.
From Pilot Point - Mr. and Mrs. Sewell McKinney and family.
From Greenville - Rev. and Mrs. Gober, Mr. and Mrs. John May.
From Gunter - B.F.Thompson, Miss Janice Taylor, Pete Selby, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Phillips, Bob Paxton, Mr. and Mrs. R.B.Pope.
From Denison - Mike Sharp, Dr.M.M.Morrison, Jerome McKinney, Miss Bessie Willis and Mrs. Dempsey.
From Farmersville - T.W.Cato, Rev. and Mrs. C.B.Fielder and family.
From Whitewright - Wick Roan, Editor Waggoner, Guy Hamilton, Lloyd Moore, Lucian LaRoe.
From McKinney - Mack Burk, Mr. and Mrs. W.C.Brinlee and family, Mrs. Katie Long and daughters, Mrs. J.F.Collins and Miss Johnnie Mae Long; Sheriff and Mrs. Ed Blakeman, R.G.Burk, and perhaps others. Mrs. Long was a cousin of the deceased. J.O.Beldon of this city was also a cousin of the deceased.
From Melissa - Mr. and Mrs. W.C.Dysart.
From Durant - Tobe Hughes and family.
From Allen - Mr. and Mrs. George Flesher.
From Marietta, Okla. - Ernest McKiney, Col.McKinney, Jerome McKinnye.
From Bagwell - Scott McKinney.
From Gordonville - Dr.T.E.McKinney.
From Sulphur Springs - R.D.Sanders, Joe Biggerstaff.
From Ardmore, Okla. - C.J.McKinney.
From Dallas - J.C.Dunning, Chief of Detectives of Police.
From Fort Worth - Lee McAfee.
From Palmer - Lou Griffith, Joe Griffith.
Dr.R.L.Marquis, President, N.T.S.T.C., Dr. Wilton W. Cook (Dean of Men), Coach J.B.Reed and the following students from N.T.S.T.C. at Denton, attended in a body. Clay Rice, Cap Gilberth, Osce Gross, Bill Box, Wayne Terry, Chester Primlee, Onel Malone, Tom Howarth, Bill Crawford, Blackie Jones, Jim Bray, Clyde Shaw, Charles Douglas, Leroy Crabtree.
W.L.Echols was a conscientious man, honored and esteemed by every friend and acquaintance and this county has been made a better place by his having lived in it. He instilled into his sons the same rugged principles of character and honesty and they too, are following in the footsteps of their lamented father.
He was the type of man that leaves the world brighter and better by his having lived and wrought in it.
The family have the condolence of a host of friends in their hour of sorrow in the loss of their dear husband and father.
Active Pallbearers _ J.M.Mc___, Mayor, W.W.Blassingame and Orr Stinnett, Commissioners, J.H.Neill, F.L.Douglas, J.Umphress.
Honorary Pallbearers: S.L.McKinney, Jas. W. McKinney, F.R.Slaughter, Turner Leslie, Wm.Stinnett, L.A.Cartwright, Van Alstyne, Texas, Joe Biles, Ada Okla., Joe and Lou Griffith, Palmer, Texas, R.D.Sanders, Sulphur Springs, Texas, J.C.Gunning, Dallas, Texas, R.L.McAfee, Fort Worth, Tex., C.L.Vowell.