David Counts, 1936-2023

THE HONORABLE DAVID COUNTS

MIDLAND—The Honorable David Counts, a former state representative, Grand MasteroftheMasonsofTexas, and a Brigadier General (Brevet) in the Texas Army National Guard,diedathishome in Midland, Texas, on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Born to Walter and Alma Counts in Munday, Texas, on July 14, 1936, David, officially named Walter David Counts, Jr., was raised and graduated high school in Rule, Texas.

After high school graduation in 1954, David attended West Texas State University and North Texas State University. On July 15, 1956, a day after turning 20 years old, he marriedtheloveofhislifeand soulmateforthenext67years, the former Mary Mullins of Haskell, Texas. Together David and Mary moved to Knox City, where they raised two children, Patti and David III.

In 1953, Counts joined the Texas Army National Guard, beginninga32-yearcareerasa memberoftheArmedForces, retiring in 1984 at the rank of colonel, later receiving a brevet promotion to brigadier general.Heisagraduateofthe UnitedStatesArmyCommand andGeneralStaffCollege,and received many decorations and awards, including the General K.L. Bailey Award for heroism and the Minute Man Awardforoutstandingservice.

His many years in Knox City saw his founding of Counts Insurance Agency, whichheownedandoperated for 35 years, and Counts Real Estate, which only recently closed.

Throughout his Knox City tenure he also served as vice president and director of Rolling Plains Well Service, and as president and chairman of Chap Operating. He had many interests, and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to hold agricultural interests in wheat and cotton producing farms, as well as ranches in Knox, Haskell and Stonewall counties.

His statewide service began in 1988 with his election to the Texas House of Representatives. Over a span of the next 15 years he served as an effective and productive legislator and representative of several counties scattered throughout the Big Country. During his legislative tenure, he served as a member of numerous committees, including the House Energy Committee, and for 10 years Rep. Counts was chairman of the Natural Resources Committee.

Counts was a proud Mason, aloveaffairthatbeganin 1961whenhebecameaMaster Mason, and culminated with his service in 2008–09 as Grand Master of Texas.

His civic involvement included severalyearsasadirector of the Knox City Chamber of Commerce, and he was a pastpresidentoftheChamber. In 1979 he was named Knox City’s Most Appreciated Citizen. He was a decades-long member of Knox City Lions Club, the National Guard Association ofTexas,andheand Mary were members of First Baptist Church, Knox City, among many other civic and religious organizations.

Counts was preceded in deathbyhisfather,Walter;his mother, Alma; and his sister Pat Grimsley. He is survived by wife Mary of Midland, daughterPattiCountsHolmes (Steve) of Aledo, son David III (Jill) of Midland and sister Cheryl Robinson (Bobby) of Rule; four grandchildren, Seth Barnett (Jenni) of Fort Worth,JenniferMcCann(Josh) of Mahomet, Illinois, Sarah Grace (Jacob) of Lubbock and Matthew Counts (Allie) of Midland; and eight greatgrandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the TexasMasonicCharitiesFoundation, P.O. Box 2156, Waco, Texas, 76703 or www.txmcf. org. The family wishes to express its gratitude to Midland MemorialHospitalandHome Hospice of Midland/Odessa.

VisitationissetforWednesday, August 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home, 210 N. Ave. A, in Knox City. Services are to be held Thursday, August 24 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Knox City. A graveside service is scheduled for Friday, August 25 at 10:00 a.m. at the Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas, under the direction of SmithFamilyFuneralHomes, Knox City.