To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Texas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Texas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 2/6/21 • Approved: 2/7/21 • Last Updated: 2/10/21 • R386994-G0-S3
US Air Force
World War II
1923-1994
Photo, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
I was born Alvin Guy Hazlett, the son of Howard A. and Lydia Hazlett of Glazier, Texas, July 15, 1923. I grew up in that small metropolis and graduated from High School at Canadian in 1940. My father was a Santa Fe Agent there.
From Canadian I went to West Texas State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree. I joined the Air Force during World War II. While flying the lead plane of a 36 plane flying mission in February, 1945 over Germany, the first time since I began flying as a pilot, gunfire blew the right wing off the plane.
We had to parachute, the first and last time I've ever parachuted, seven of our eleven man crew lost their lives. My chute didn't open until the second time I pulled the cord.
They captured me four hours after I landed. I was placed in solitary confinement for a month and interrogated.
My imprisonment as a POW lasted three months. During that time I went from 185 pounds to 135 pounds. Our food consisted of one or two Red Cross Parcels and a bread that was made with synthetic substances and sawdust. One loaf was stamped with the year, three years old, before I got it. The days seemed like weeks. Though I wrote home, the letters didn't arrive till after I had returned.
Being in a POW camp made me appreciate the American way of life, and I felt like I'd never complain again if I got out okay. I even thought I'd welcome food from a genuine American garbage can.
I'll always remember the day we were liberated. General George Patton rolled through the prison camp wearing a white helmet and riding a tank. I was so scared because we always heard that Patton said "POW's" should get combat medals with yellow stripes down the middle. But he was real nice, and the movie 'Patton' was very real.
The most memorable moment of all was the day we were liberated, and they ran an American flag up on the pole beside the church. The major standing next to me cried like a baby. It was a beautiful sight.
When I got home I married Margie Kelln.
Margie's mother, Mollie Laubhan Kelln, grew up in a village on the Volga River, near Moscow, Russia. Her father, John Kelln was a native of Holstein, Germany.
As a matter of fact, Margie's family had a town in Germany named for them way back. Koln, the original German spelling of their name, or Cologne the French adaptation as it is known here. Margie's family changed the spelling with their entrance into the U.S.A.
Her grandfather Laubhan gathered his family together and took them out of Russia during the time of Bolsheviks. He was a miller and her grandmother was a talented dress maker. They first came to Marion, Kansas, and then moved to Shattuck, Oklahoma, where Margie still has many relatives.
When her parents married, they moved to Lipscomb County, Texas. Her mother died in 1963 and her father in 1971. Margie remembers that she had to learn to speak Russian and German as a pre-school child and can still converse in those languages with her relatives.
Margie grew up on a ranch near Canadian, one of the ten children of John and Mollie Kelln. She played the trumpet in the high school band and was a majorette. After graduation she went to Amarillo to attend a business school and took classes at Musical Arts Conservatory. She worked as a secretary for the Amarillo architect who designed the Air Force Base, Bunavista Village, and other government war-time installations.
Margie attended West Texas State University in 1946 and 1947, majoring in music. Then we went to Baylor University School of Law, where I graduated with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1949.
When I first came to Borger to practice law in 1950, I was in partnership for several years with Kenneth Lawing on Sixth Street. During those years I served as State Representative for the 86th Legislative District of Texas from 1953 to 1957.
In 1962 I became the Second Judge of the Court of Domestic Relations in Hutchinson County, Texas. This post I had created while in the legislature and H.M. Hood had been Hutchinson County's first Domestic Relations Judge. During these years I was selected to join a group of 30 American businessmen and leaders from the Southern United States to undertake a specially planned fact-finding mission in Israel.
In 1979 The Court of Domestic Relations was eliminated and I became district Judge for the 316th Judicial District Court of Texas serving in Hutchinson County. This Court expansion gives this County additional judicial strength it has needed since most of the work of the district is here.
Margie and I have had three children during these years.
Guy Hazlett II was born in 1947. Guy received a Bachelor of Science and a Masters Degree from West Texas State University and attended Law School at Tech. He worked in administrative department of the School of Medicine Hospital in Lubbock and is now Hospital Administrator for Highland General in Pampa.
Guy married the former Beverly Bell of Borger and they have two children, Robbie Guy and Angela.
Our son, Michael Hazlett was born in 1951, and his wife is the former Hazel Boyd of Borger. Both of them have been listed in Outstanding Young Men and Women Publication. Mike is now in Austin, Texas, where he is employed in the Governor's Executive Office. They have a daughter Rebekah.
Our daughter, Kandice is now a lovely young high school student at Borger High and quite active in Music. She is a member of the High School Varsity Choir and the Show Choir and the Thespian Drama Club.
I have also been active as a Mason over the years, and am now serving as District DeMolay Governor. I have kept up with my professional organizations and judicials meetings over the years.
Margie has had many interests. She is an organist and pianist and has done some oil painting and is a versatile cook. She has even taken to composing music. She has also taken courses in landscaping and decorating and has studied nutrition. She has been active in Eastern Star and is a member of the Borger Music Club.
The Panhandle of Texas has been our home since birth, and has proven a good place to live, work and raise a family. It is a place to grow and be nurtured in, and has proven a kind home to this Texan.
Submitted by Judge Guy Hazlett for inclusion in 'History of Hutchinson County Texas, 104 Years, 1876-1980,' Copyright 1980 by the Hutchinson County Historical Commission, 1st Printing.
-----
*Obituary
AMARILLO - Retired 316th Judicial District Judge and former State Representative Guy Hazlett, 70, died Wednesday, June 1, 1994, in St. Anthony's Hospice in Amarillo.
Judge Hazlett had been a Borger resident for 44 years.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Steve Miller and the Rev. Gregg Simmons, officiating.
Judge Hazlett was born in 1923 in Glazier, Hemphill County and graduated from Canadian High School in 1940. He received a bachelor of science degree from West Texas State University and an LLB degree from Baylor University School of Law.
Judge Hazlett operated his law practice in Borger from 1950 through 1962. He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, 86th District, from 1953 to 1957. He also was Judge of the Court of Domestic Relations from 1963 to 1977, and Judge of the 316th Judicial District from 1977 until he retired in 1990.
He was a B-17 pilot in the U.S. Air Corps, 8th Air Force, World War II, European theater and in World War II he was shot down and held as a prisoner of war, during his service as a pilot. He was captured by German-trained Doberman Pinscher dogs four hours after they hit the ground. He was kept in solitary confinement for a month while he was put through interrogation sessions.
Judge Hazlett married Margie Kelln on Sept. 8, 1945 in Canadian.
Judge Hazlett was very active in local civic activities. His work includes serving as chairman of the Hutchinson County Juvenile Board, former district governor District 11 Order of DeMolay, past district Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, member of the Order of Eastern Star and El Paso Scottish Bodies. The Judge also served with the American Legion, VFW, DAV and Ex-Pows associations.
He was past vice president of the Jaycees and past vice president of District 19, PTA.
He was past president of numerous organizations including the Borger Bar Association, Kiwanis Club, Gateway PTA, Borger and past master of the Adobe Walls Lodge #1355.
He was former workshop chairman Area E-5 and former youth activities committee member of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
He had also received the Altrusa Club Outstanding Citizen award.
Burial will be in Westlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ed Brown & Sons Funeral Home.
He is survived by his wife, Margie; two sons, Guy Hazlett II of Mineral Wells, and Dr. Michael Hazlett, Macomb, Ill.; a daughter, Kandice Ballman of Borger; a brother, Elmer Hazlett of Borger, one sister, Donna Hensley, Broadus, Mt.; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
(Published in Borger News-Herald, Vol. 68-No.163, Wednesday, June 1, 1994, Page 1,14)
-----
Contributed on 2/6/21 by neldapat
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 386994