Paul Luckey, owner of Rockdale Memorial Company, gave a talk about his family and company at Sunday’s 90th annual Citywide Homecoming at the Patterson Civic Center.
The company was started by Paul’s father, Edward Luckey, and has been in business for 78 years. He started the company when he got out of the Army Air Corps in 1946 and worked at building the family business until his passing in 1982.
Paul said, “I had the blessing of working alongside my dad on Saturdays and during the summers from the time I was a little boy until high school when I was able to work half days while still in school. Little did I know how valuable this time would be as my father passed away in December of 1982, the year I graduated.”
Lucky also recognized former employees, some of whom were at the event. They included Ruben Melcher, Richard Melcher, Hilda Melcher, Johnny Kirkenwitz, Charlie Coleman, Richard Wayne Melcher and Della Coleman who has been the company’s bookkeeper for 57 years.
Luckey’s sister Linda came to work at the company in 1984 along with his lifelong friend Pat Zapata who was also the best man at his wedding. His sister Carol Luckey joined the company in 1995.
Paul also spoke about how proud and honored he and his family are to help provide remembrance to family that have lost loved ones over the years.
Another announcement that got a huge round of applause from the attendees was, “My father, being a veteran, began early in the business providing a number of veteran memorial stones around Milam County and other courthouses to remember and recognize veterans over the years. My father’s teachings to all of us were to respect, honor and remember.”
Rockda le Memoria l Company has continued to preserve Edward Luckey’s legacy so much so that he said he was proud to share that, “We provide stones for fallen State DPS Troopers and Austin Police Department Officers, along with providing memorials in honoring fire departments and EMS agencies. We even provide K9 Police Dogs and Mounted Patrol Horses memorials.”
Luc k e y e nd e d h i s remarks by saying, “We enjoy what we do and have the aspirations that my children, Alisa, Elaine, Ryan and Jack, may want to come back to Rockdale once they finish school, military service or retire from their professions to take over Rockdale Memorial Company and continue the family legacy.”
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