Terry Jackson Retires From Highway Patrol

Today (November 12) Department of Public Safety Corporal Terry Jackson will sign off for the last time as he closes out a 26 year career in law enforcement.

It has been a career marked with learning, making lifelong friendships, opportunities, and success.

Jackson grew up in Dallas and graduated from Wilmer Hutchins High School in 1976.

He attended Angelo State University from 1976-1977.

"I was a young kid with a basketball dream," Jackson said. "They were going to red shirt me and I left."

Then from 1978-1980 he attended Mountainview Community College in Dallas and played basketball.

"I just wanted to play ball. I didn’t think I could go professional because there wasn’t very many guys 5’7" playing ball at the time," Jackson said.

Mary Hardin Baylor offered Jackson a basketball scholarship, but he turned it down.

"It was at that point I realized that basketball is going to forever be a young man’s dream of anyone at my age coming up through the ranks," Jackson said. "I realized that each and every day, and each and every hour that passes, you are getting older."

Jackson then went on to El Centro College in Dallas where he began pursuing an associate’s degree in radiology while working full time at Parkland Hospital.

He also did training at Medical City at Dallas, Brookhaven Hospital, and Children’s Hospital.

"At that time the money was good in radiology, and I was in the stage of what can I do that I would enjoy that was quick as far as me making some money," Jackson said with a laugh.

While working at Parkland, Jackson began going to court reporting school.

Jackson also met his wife Julie at Parkland Hospital, where she too was employed, and they married June 27, 1981.

In 1982 the Jackson’s went into the driver’s license office to get a change of address at the Keystone Driver’s License office in Richardson.

Jackson recalled with a smile. "…Me and Mrs. Jackson walked in and I saw these black guys sitting up there, probably about seven or eight of them, sitting in there typing and looking all sharp."

"I was looking for a career change and I inquired to one of them, and not only that, I saw a sign on the wall that said ‘come be a part of the DPS troopers’ and I told Mrs. Jackson I’m going to be one of those guys," Jackson said. "She said ‘you ain’t going to be one of those guys’ and I said I am too."

After filling out the necessary paperwork Jackson underwent a background check and was recruited by Ralphell Watkins.

Jackson entered the DPS Academy on April 1, 1983, but not before concerns were voiced by his family.

"My dad was cool about it," Jackson recalled. "He always had respect for the Highway Patrol. He would always tell me ‘don’t mess with them boys in the cowboy hats’."

His siblings - sisters Ronita, Shandria, and Karen, along with brothers Tony, Todd, and Tommy were all concerned for his safety but supported his decision.

Jackson’s mother Charlie Mae was extremely concerned for his safety having worked in a hospital.

"She wanted us to branch out and she would say how about being a doctor or a lawyer? She didn’t say anything about being a police officer," Jackson said with a laugh.

After graduating from the academy in August 1983, Jackson’s first duty station was Dallas Keystone.

Then in October 1984 he transferred to Van Zandt County and was here from 1984-1989, and then was transferred to Dallas/Garland warrant division and was assigned to Governor Bill Clements detail and sent to guard his home at Highland Park for approximately three months.

He then transferred to the Dallas/North Toll Road from June 1989-1992.

Then in January 1992 he was transferred back to Van Zandt County.

He also had the opportunity to protect Governor George W. Bush’s detail for one month while he was campaigning for president.

That experience took him to various parts of the United States.

"It was very exciting, but very stressful," Jackson recalled.

In 2003, Jackson was promoted to corporal in Van Zandt County.

Jackson said his job as corporal requires him to share the responsibility of overseeing 11 troopers.

"The things they are going through I’ve already been there and done it a thousand times," Jackson said. "…I just tell them they are a young Terry Jackson."

Looking back over his career, Jackson said there were many people who have inspired him.

"Ralphell Watkins was an inspiration to me becoming a trooper," Jackson said. "But not only him, I was inspired by a number of guys in that office including Curtis Hollis, Marvin Weaver, Lance Coleman, Ulysses McBride, Richard Lenore, Taft Green, Big Willy Thomas and Dave Fisher. I have to look to all of those guys. I could go on and on. There are so many."

"Who was the biggest inspiration on me though was Sergeant Bill Dean and his wife (Mary Beth)," Jackson said. "They treated me like I was a son."

"He (Bill Dean) gave me the opportunity to work for him," Jackson said; adding that Dean looked beyond his color. "I was sent down here to do a job. He was like a mother hen. You had to go through him and his wife before you could even get close to me."

Jackson said other counties such as Kaufman and Smith in the 1980s, wouldn’t take him because of his color.

Over the years though Jackson said that has been one of the biggest changes he has seen, is acceptance.

Jackson said he has things planned for retirement some of which include going to church more and singing in the men’s choir which he enjoys.

"I also really love pinning cows and roping," Jackson said. "When I get on the back of a horse and I start pinning cows and rodeoing, I don’t think about anything."

"My motto is to always treat people with respect and you will receive that back in return. Treat them the way you want to be treated," Jackson said. "I think that is why my career has been so successful. Everybody is not going to treat you with respect, but that is why you are a part of the DPS family because you have to deal with what the law says."

"I feel good because I have broken in so many guys, and they still call me today and say hey or thank you," Jackson said. "Sometimes you just take those things for granted. It surprises me sometimes because you just don’t realize how many lives you may have touched."

"That is why it is important to treat people the way you want to be treated," Jackson said.

Jackson and his wife Julie make their home in Canton with their two children Dena who is 24 and Nolan who is 25. Their son Jarreau Marc died as an infant (Oct. 7-Nov. 23, 1986).

When asked if this is a career he would recommend Jackson said, "Yes, I have been pretty successful with it. But there are drawbacks like there are with any career. The good thing about this job is the security of never having to worry about too many people in this position, medical benefits, personal time, and the camaraderie of joining a new family."

"My family, and these guys all around me, they are my family," he said. "I have the respect of each and every one of them. I’m old enough to be some of these guys dad. But I have the respect of each and every one of them and that is all a man or woman should want is just to be respected."