Extracted from The Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, TX)
Lt. Spears Rites Set in Lufkin
Funeral arrangements for 2nd Lt. Joe A. Spears, 25, killed by a bolt of lightning Wednesday at Ft. Riley, Kan., are pending with the military at Ft. Riley.
His body will be taken to Lufkin for burial.
An Army spokesman said Spears and Lt. William J. Kross were on the firing range of the camp when lightning struck in advance of a thunderstorm.
Spears, platoon leader of Company C, 12th Infantry Division, was assigned the planning of proficiency training for advanced basic training.
He joined the Army in February after receiving his commission on graduation from Texas Tech in the summer of 1959. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga., prior to his assignment at Ft. Riley.
Born in Lufkin Oct. 24, 1934, he graduated from Amarillo High School in 1953. He later attended Trinity University and Amarillo College before receiving his degree from Texas Tech.
A journalism major, Spears was a photographer and later editor of the Texas Tech yearbook. He also served as editor of the school paper in 1958 and 1959.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Spears, 2002 Roberts St., and a sister, Mrs. Charles Miles of 2816 Magnolia.
Thursday, July 28, 1960