Former Tarrant County commissioner, Southlake mayor Gary Fickes dies
Former Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes has died.
Fickes served as the Northeast Tarrant County representative on commissioners court for 18 years after serving as the Southlake mayor from 1989 to 1996. He was 75.
“This has been the most incredible and rewarding job of my life,” Fickes wrote in the press release announcing he would not seek re-election in 2024. “Add ten years as Mayor of Southlake and Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission; what more could you ask for in public service?”
As mayor of Southlake, Fickes saw the population grow from 5,000 to 17,000. During his tenure, he helped lead the development of Southlake Town Square and the opening of State Highway 114.
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani wrote on social media that he was “a tremendous friend to our community and his legacy can be felt all throughout North Texas.”
RaDonna Hessel, president of the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce, said as a member of the Grapevine Rotary Club, Fickes gave back to the community through scholarships, raising awareness for organ donations and helping source computers for kids. For many years he could be found putting up and taking down flags on Main Street, she said.
While a commissioner, Fickes was committed to infrastructure development, public health and economic growth.
At Fickes’s last meeting as commissioner on Dec. 17, 2024, O’Hare said the public servant offered steadfast leadership that has shaped the county in lasting ways.
“Throughout his tenure, Commissioner Fickes has been a devoted advocate to the residents of Tarrant County, consistently working to improve the quality of life for those he serves,” O’Hare said at the meeting. “Commissioner Fickes has demonstrated outstanding leadership in his collaboration with various municipalities within precinct three, notably his role in the DFW Connector project, a transformative effort that improved connectivity across seven major highways and became the highest funded transportation project at the time in the nation.”
Hessel said his advocacy for the DFW Connector project, the $1 billion project that doubled the highway lanes around the north entrance of DFW Airport, made it easier and safer to travel in and through Grapevine.
His successor, Commissioner Matt Krause said on social media that Fickes was “a self-less public servant and a tireless worker for his constituents.”
The Northeast Tarrant County Courthouse was named in Fickes’s honor, which Krause said is a fitting tribute to the public servant who made a lasting impact on Northeast Tarrant County. Krause said he is honored to carry on the Fickes’s legacy through the annual Tarrant Transportation Summit.
“Gary was a great partner over the years as I would work with him while a state representative,” Krause said. “And then, he was incredibly helpful in making the transition from his time as Commissioner of Precinct 3 to mine. More than anything, he was a good and trusted friend. I will miss our conversations on the greatness of Tarrant County and how to improve on it.”
O’Hare posted on X about Fickes’s death, saying the former commissioner had an unmatched dedication to community service.
“We are praying for Gary’s wife Kathy, his children, Chris, Jenny, and Corey, his grandchildren, and their entire family during this time,” O’Hare said. “I have great admiration for the life Gary lived—marked by integrity, purpose, and service to both his community and his family. He will be deeply missed.”
This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 10:10 AM.