The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 79, Ed. 1 Friday, October 2, 2009 Page: 15 of 32
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Friday, October 2, 2009
The Boerne Star
Page 15A
Y
helped a suicidal youth cope with
his problems.”
In addition to the professionalism
he displayed in his work, Kolb’s fel-
low officers praised him as willing
support from the law enforcement to help anyone who asked with the
KOLB
FROM PAGE 1A
agencies in Kendall County and the response “where do you need me?”
Boerne community at large. In addition to touching moments,
Hundreds of uniformed officers there were also stories of humor.
from agencies throughout the Hill One instance Sherlynn Kelley
Country and the state attended mentioned was when a home was
Kolb’s funeral Oct. 6, 1999 at First destroyed in an explosion. Kolb sat
Baptist Church in Boerne. in his canine truck outside the house
“People who had worked with overnight to secure the area and see
Larry, others who did not know him that nothing was taken.
but came to honor him as a fellow Knowing that he wouldn’t accept
officer - there were so many offer- any monetary compensation, the
ing support and letting us know his family came to his truck and asked
sacrifice would always be remem- if he wanted anything to eat.
bered, ’ Sherlynn Kelley said. “When they told me he said he
Sheriff Hodge said he considered wouldn’t mind having some cook-
Kolb a very dear friend as well ies, I laughed because Larry had a
as a dependable professional. Our weakness for cookies, there were
community has lost a great officer, always cookies in his desk drawer,”
Hodge told the crowd assembled sherlynn Kelley said.
for the funeral. On the first anniversary of Kolb’s
Kolb was born and raised in Aus- death, Kendall County dedicated
tin and from the time he was a child, a memorial to law enforcement
he wanted to be in law enforcement, officers and firefighters who died
Sherlynn Kelley said. A 13-year in the line of duty. Kolb’s widow
veteran in law enforcement, Kolb and children attended along with
joined the Kendall County Sheriff s other family members. Sheriff’s
Department in 1997 and quickly Department officers joined them
rose to the rank of lieutenant over- in the important milestone in the
seeing narcotics investigations. He grief process, including Kolb’s
was an experienced canine officer friend Paul Patel, who was with
and worked with a drug-sniffing the Boerne Police Department after
dog in anti-drug enforcement serving with Kolb at the Sheriff’s
operations. Before joining the Department.
KCSO, he worked with the Lago Patel’s death Dec. 30, 2008,
Vista Police Department, the Hutto brought home the significance of
Police Department, Austin school the 10th anniversary year as Tom
district, Northside School District and Sherlynn Kelley reflected on
and Bexar County Precinct 5 con- the twists and turns and many
stable’s office. changes in the family’s life since
The funeral procession from and because of Larry Kolb’s death.
Boerne to Mission Park South m San In the months following her
Antonio included 250 patrol cars brother’s death, Sherlynn Kelley
and law enforcement motorcycles. began volunteering with the Sher-
Participating in the funeral ser- iff’s Association of Texas in Austin
vices and honors was Kolb’s canine doing research for the organiza-
partner, Arno, one of several drug- tion’s memorial to fallen officers
detection trained dogs he had and helping raise funds for the
worked with during his 13 years scholarship foundation.
in law enforcement that included “Shortly after that, I changed my
serving two school districts. Within career, stopped teaching preschool
six months of the funeral, Arno also and went to work for the associa-
passed away. tion,” she said. “I wanted to learn all
“We really did not know the full I could about law enforcement.”
impact of Larry’s involvement in Tom Kelley’s career evolved from
law enforcement and the influence risk management assessment to
he had on others, Tom Kelley safety and today he is a school
said. safety specialist with the Texas
The family heard from many peo- School Safety Center at Texas State
ple who said Kolb helped them both University in San Marcos.
as a law enforcement officer and in Their oldest son Jason, who was
times of personal crisis. inspired by the honor shown at his
“One young man expressed his uncle’s funeral to write an edito-
gratitude to Larry in a letter to the rial for his school newspaper about
editor of the Boerne Star,” Tom the significance of law enforcement
Kelley said, “and we heard from and the sacrifices officers make,
another family who said Larry has graduated from Texas State and
is training to become a corrections
officer with the Hays County Sher-
iff’s Department.
“His motivation was from Larry
when he was an officer with the
Austin ISD and Jason hopes one
day to follow him in that position,”
Tom Kelley said.
It was through the Sheriff’s Asso-
ciation that the Kelleys, Kolb’s
parents and his other siblings
became involved with the organiza-
tion Concerns of Police Survivors
(COPS). Carol Kolb, who works
with the Texas Teacher Retirement
System, became treasurer of the
South Texas chapter and the Kelleys
helped organize a Central Texas
chapter. The organization provides
emotional support for survivors of
peace officers.
“We are notified of every law
enforcement death in Texas and
across the country,” Tom Kelley J
said, “and it happens every day.” f
The impact and grieving process .
is different for siblings and parents .
than for widows of fallen peace
officers, the Kelleys explained.
“The spouse has to move on, take
care of and raise the children at
a time when siblings and parents
want to talk about and take com-
fort in memories,” Sherlynn Kelley
said.
Leslie Kolb and her sons contin-
ued to five in San Antonio in the
house she inherited from her grand-
mother. Active in Mary Kay sales,
Leslie Kolb became a top director.
“In fact, the night Larry died,
she was waiting for him to get
home because she had to go to a
Mary Kay meeting,” Sherlynn Kel-
ley said.
In the intervening years, friends
and family members have passed
away, including Leslie Kolb’s Kendall County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Larry Kolb with his last canine partner Arno,
mother who died in February. Arno, who accompanied officers at Kolb’s funeral in 1999, died in March of the follow-
The biggest loss to Kolb’s sons
Jacob, now 23, and Patrick, now
a 15-year-old high school student
and drummer in the band, came on
Memorial Day.
“Patrick got up that morning and
found Leslie had passed away dur-
ing the night,” Sherlynn said. “We
are all still in shock. These boys
have lost so much.”
Former Sheriff Hodge, who lives
in San Antonio, was among the
officers and friends who attended
Leslie Kolb’s funeral.
“Jason has just graduated from
UT and is getting his career started,”
Sherlynn Kelley said, adding that
her nephew has stayed with them
at various times while attending
college in Austin. “Jason was in no
position to take care of Patrick, so
he is living with Leslie's brother
Rick Harding and his wife. They
ing year.
live in San Antonio and that way, versary, we drive through Boerne,
Patrick can attend the high school just to go by the church or the
and stay where he is used to.” courthouse and remember,” Tom
Committed to preserving the mem- Kelley said. Kolb’s parents are still
ory of every fallen law enforcement living in their home in Austin and
officer, the Kelleys have partici- sometimes make the trip with the
pated in COPS retreats and other Kelleys.
activities and over the years they “Larry was a country boy at heart
have run into many people who and he loved the Hill Country,
worked with Kolb and others who especially Kendall County. This
attended his funeral. was where he wanted to be. It
“We’ve become close to many of was his dream to someday have
these families like ours,” Sherlynn property near Boerne,” Sherlynn
Kelley said. Kelley said.
They have also kept in touch “We just want to thank the people
with Kendall County friends and of Boerne and Kendall County and
law enforcement officers as they let them know that a part of our
remember the man who continues heart knows that Larry is where
to inspire and serve others after his he would want to be,” Sherlynn
death. Kelley said.
“Sometimes, like on the fifth anni- “He found his final home here.”
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DEPUTY
FROM PAGE 1A
Hospital in San Antonio, where he
died of his injuries at 7:20 p.m.
Dean said shell casings at the
scene indicated Ramos fired four
shots at officers before he was struck
charged with public intoxication,
driving while intoxicated and driv-
ing with a suspended license but
officers had never known him to
be violent and nothing indicated
he could be dangerous. Hodge said
investigators could not pinpoint a
motive for his violent actions other
than he was despondent over the
failure of his efforts to reconcile
with his girlfriend.
Officials said Kolb was not wear-
ing a bullet-proof vest at the time
of the shooting. However, given
the point-blank range and the type
of weapon, the vest may not have
prevented the fatal wounds.
A 13-year veteran in law enforce-
ment, Kolb joined the Kendall
County Sheriff’s Department in
cer down, called for backup and by one shotgun slug and four shot-
tried to reach Kolb, Ramos left the gun pellets. Because shotguns don’t
trailer on foot. leave distinctive ballistic markings,
Then-Sheriff Henry Hodge, it was never known whether the
deputies, Boerne Police, Fair Oaks pellet that killed Ramos was fired
Ranch Police, Constable Don White by Hodge, White or DPS officer
and DPS troopers arrived within Darome West.
minutes, surrounded the trailer and Dean told Boerne Star reporter
closed off the area. EMS personnel Hal Braswell that the assault rifle
attempted to revive Kolb as officers Ramos fired was a modified MAK-
searched for the suspect. 90 sporter, a weapon very similar
According to investigators’ to the AK-47 semi-automatic. The
reports, officers spotted Ramos weapon had been reported miss-
underneath another trailer and saw ing from another residence in the
him reloading the assault rifle. After mobile home park, Dean said.
he ignored orders to throw out the Ramos, identified as a Hondu- 1997 and quickly rose to the rank
weapon, shots were exchanged and ran national who had entered the of lieutenant overseeing narcotics
Ramos was wounded. The EMS
personnel who could not save Kolb struction and landscaping. Hodge
transported Ramos to University said Ramos had previously been
country legally, worked in con- investigations. He was an experi-
enced canine officer and worked
with a drug-sniffing dog in anti-drug
got smile?
Aesthetic Dental Associates
Brent A. Hallum, D.D.S., P.A.
804 N. Main St. •
erne, Texas 78006
(830) 249-8407
www.aestheticdentalassociates.com
enforcement operations. Before
joining the KCSO, he worked with
the Lago Vista Police Department,
the Hutto Police Department, Aus-
tin school district, Northside School
District and Bexar County Precinct
5 constable’s office.
At the time of his death, Kolb
was the third Sheriff’s Department
officer who died in the line of duty
serving Kendall County. In 1948,
Sheriff Sidney Francis Edge died of
a heart attack while trying to sub-
due an intoxicated man. In 1971,
Sheriff Douglas William Kuebel
was shot when he responded to a
domestic disturbance where a man
was threatening to kill his wife and
her family.
Kolb was survived by his wife,
Leslie, two sons, Jacob Barnes, 13,
and Patrick Kolb, 5, his parents,
bold 009
brother Tommy Fry and sisters
Sherlynn Kelley and Carol Kolb
and their families as well as many
other relatives and friends.
More than 500 peace officers
from throughout the state came to
pay their respects and conduct full
law enforcement honors at Kolb’s
funeral Oct. 6, 1999 at the First
Baptist Church in Boerne. Kolb was
praised by Hodge and his fellow
officers as a professional, caring
officer who took extra time to help
new recruits and handled admin-
istrative duties as well as criminal
investigations. His experience as
an officer with the Austin school
district gave him insight in deal-
ing with youth and several families
credited Kolb’s intervention in help-
ing young people overcome their
problems.
This family photo shows
Larry Kolb at age 3, already
showing an interest in a law
enforcement career. “Moth-
er used to call him her little
‘Deputy Dog,’ “ Kolb’s sister
Sherlynn Kelley said. “He
was always a cowboy at
heart and loved his job with
all his heart and soul.”
The long funeral procession to the
cemetery in San Antonio included
police motorcycle escort in addition
to the many law enforcement agency
and emergency response vehicles.
Also accompanying the casket was
Kolb’s canine partner, Amo. The
narcotics detection-trained dog died
five months later.
After attempts to find relatives
in Honduras failed, Bexar County
morgue officials made arrangements
for a pauper’s burial for Ramos.
------LET’S DO---------
USINESS
_----mg,—H]-------
1 KEEP IT BOERNE
HALLOWEEN FUN AUTHE PLAZ
Hosted by Emerge Boerne: A Young Professional Forum
Saturday, October 17th, 2009
1 0am to 1pm S
FAMILIES JP FRIENP ARB CORPINLLY
INVITE TO COME (ELBBRITE LOCAL BOERNE
B/9IVE99E9 W KIVB 90MB KILLOVEEN ROM
k Ghoulish Face Painting
* Go Fish
* Ring Toss
* Rat Trap Washers: Throw fake mice to make
traps go off
* Lollypop Ghosts: Craft Making
* Cake-Walk: Similar to musical chairs. Winners
receive cakes % pies. 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm
ik Costume Contest: The costume winners will
be annouced at 12pm.
* Halloween Coloring Table
* Obstacle Course Races: Potato sack % stick
horse racing
* Sock Toss: How far can YOU throw?
Live Family -
Friendly Music
Free Food by some
of Boerne's Best
Restaurants
Free & Fun Kids'
Halloween Games
Costume Contest
Safe
Trick-or-Treating
Spiders in the Haystack: Plastic play spiders
to find in pile of hay. ___________.
[ Winners of the Costume Contest announcedal 12 DM! Great Prizes! J
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Cartwright, Brian & Velvin, Candace E. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 103, No. 79, Ed. 1 Friday, October 2, 2009, newspaper, October 2, 2009; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1667444/m1/15/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.