Gary Fickes, a longtime politician in Tarrant County, has died at the age of 75.

Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare posted on social media July 11 that the former Precinct 3 Tarrant County Commissioner had died.

“Gary was a true public servant whose long and respected career left a lasting impact on the people of North Texas,” O’Hare said on the post. “His dedication to community service was unmatched.”

The big picture

Fickes spent more than 35 years in public service. He served as Southlake’s mayor from 1989-96 and was in the Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 3 seat for 18 years, retiring Dec. 31, 2024.



Fickes created the Tarrant Transportation Summit and oversaw the event for 14 years prior to his retirement from the commissioners court. In honor of Fickes, the Mobility Award was renamed the Gary Fickes Leadership Award in 2025, according to previous reporting.

During his time as a commissioners he helped usher in a number of road projects, such as widening SH 26 in Colleyville, the $1.5 billion DFW Connector that went north of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and numerous interlocal agreement between the county and cities for road work.

The action taken

Local cities renamed buildings, rooms and roads in Fickes' honor after his retirement.


The Tarrant County Northeast Courthouse in Hurst was renamed in his honor Nov. 7, 2024. Fellow commissioners approved the renaming during an Oct. 1, 2024, meeting, according to previous reporting.

The city of Colleyville renamed the community room at the Colleyville Senior Center after Fickes on Nov. 20, 2024, according to a Facebook post. Fickes was a Colleyville resident.

A portion of a roadway was renamed to Gary Fickes Way in Southlake during the June 17 council meeting.

Southlake City Council approved the renaming of a section of FM 1938/Davis Boulevard from FM 1709/Southlake Boulevard to the north Southlake city limits, according to previous reporting.


What they’re saying

Several local mayors posted comments about Fickes on social media in the aftermath of his passing.

  • “We have lost a true public servant with the passing of my friend Gary Fickes, who served as Mayor of Southlake and Tarrant County Commissioner. Gary helped build Southlake and was instrumental in so many road and infrastructure projects in Tarrant County,” Southlake Mayor Shawn McCaskill said.
  • “North Texas mourns today as we learn of the passing of former county commissioner, Gary Fickes," Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said. "My first meeting after getting sworn in as Mayor was with Gary as we discussed the partnership between the county and the city of Keller pertaining to infrastructure improvements. He was a tremendous friend to our community and his legacy can be felt all throughout North Texas."
  • “Commissioner Gary Fickes was a pillar of the community—an exemplary leader, dedicated public servant, and, above all, a cherished friend," Roanoke Mayor Carl “Scooter” Gierisch said. "His legacy is woven into the very fabric of Southlake, Tarrant County, and the greater North Texas region."
  • "Gary Fickes was a dear friend to Colleyville and left a lasting impact across Northeast Tarrant County. He served the community with integrity, kindness, and compassion. He will be deeply missed and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family," Colleyville Mayor Bobby Lindamood said.