Turner Maurice ‘Tex’ Gauntt Jr. was born in Dallas, TX, the son of Turner Maurice Gauntt Sr. and Marguerite McKinzie Gauntt. He graduated from Athens High School where he excelled academically and athletically. His accomplishments included National Honor Society, President of the Key Club, Captain of All-District Football and Basketball Teams, Captain of the Athletic Association, Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award, President of the Senior Class, and Most Handsome. He was considered one of Texas’ best high school quarterbacks. His outstanding record led to an appointment to West Point by Congressman John Dowdy of the 7th District of Texas.
During cow year at West Point, Tex roomed with Bruce Turnbull and “Andy” Andrews. Having attended college for two years and the USMA Preparatory School before joining our class, Andy excelled at academics. He was famous for retiring early and then maxing the next day’s classes! After lights out, Tex and Bruce studied by flashlights under their Red Boys. Bruce recalls that at the reveille cannon blast, Andy would shoot out of bed, switch on the sink light, and sing as he shaved. Meanwhile Tex and Bruce yearned for peace and quiet. A trip to Hoffman’s Hardware in Highland Falls resulted in the purchase of a camera flash bulb which was screwed into the sink light fixture. The next morning when Andy hit the light switch, the flash bulb exploded in a blinding flash. Andy reeled backwards crashing over chairs and desks. So ended Andy’s early morning antics.
Firstie year Tex was selected as Company Commander of I-1. This came as no surprise to those who knew him. He was greatly respected and admired. His leadership qualities were evident from his first days at West Point. Under his leadership the company was awarded the Trill Prize for Best Company and two drill streamers.
Tex roomed with Jack Apperson, the Company Executive Officer, and Dana Mead, the Battalion Commander. Jack recalls Tex doing vertical pushups by standing on his hands, feet straight up, back against the wall, pushing up from the floor.
Before Graduation Parade, rumors circulated about our class running, instead of marching, to join the reviewing party. In 1957 the reviewing party included General Maxwell D. Taylor ’22, then Chief of Staff, United States Army, in addition to the Superintendent and the Commandant of Cadets. At the command for the graduating class to march forward, a rebel yell erupted from H-1’s Rabble Rousing Carl Burgdorf. He pulled out a hidden Confederate Flag and took off running like a jack rabbit. Despite I-1’s proximity to running companies on both flanks, I-1’s firsties marched on, not missing a drum beat, mainly because their leader, Tex, was having none of the rabble running. Instead he led the company with back straight, chin set, and eyes forward. Both Jack Apperson and Tom Adcock recall Tex turning his head slightly to his right and commanding, “Don’t run, don’t run!” Of the 24 cadet companies all but four ran. The runners soon learned that they would spend major parts of their final cadet days confined to their rooms.
Tex was commissioned in the Air Force. His first training was at Hondo Air Base. While there he met Janice Agee who was attending Trinity University in San Antonio. They were married on Dec 22, 1957.
Tex was assigned to the Strategic Air Command and was selected to pilot the revolutionary, delta-winged B-58 Hustler. This bomber was capable of flying at Mach II (twice the speed of sound). B-58 crews were elite, hand-picked from other SAC bomber squadrons. Tex became SAC’s youngest B-58 squadron commander.
In 1965 an in-flight emergency occurred on Tex’s B-58 as an engine caught fire during a training flight over Arkansas. He ordered his two crewmen to bail out and received permission to land his aircraft. He was able to land his B-58 safely despite the engine fire. Unfortunately a heart arrhythmia was found during a post-incident physical exam. He was told he could never return to Air Force flight status, which was a huge disappointment. Tex telephoned close friend and classmate Stan Cass to transfer to Army Aviation.
But before the transfer began, Braniff Airlines made Tex an offer too good to refuse. The couple returned to Texas where Tex joined Braniff and in time moved into the captain’s seat. His career with Braniff was a grand one until Braniff went out of business in 1992.
In keeping with his love of flying, Tex became an instructor with Higher Power Aviation in Grand Prairie until 2012. In 2006 he received the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award from the Federal Aviation Administration. He also flew for ConocoPhillips, flying to and from the north shore of Alaska. In 2012 he was presented an award for Leadership, Professionalism, and Exemplary Contribution.
Tex also became a Real Estate Broker and opened his first office with wife Janice in 1968. He created Texas’ first real estate franchise. This award-winning company later became Century 21 Lake Country at Eagle Mountain Lake. It and a second office in Colleyville are now owned by son Tim.
Tex’s love for flying was exceeded only by his love for his family. He was proud of them and almost any conversation quickly turned to his wife, children, and grandchildren, and their many successes.
He is survived by wife Janice, his son Tim and Tim’s wife Roslyn Gauntt, his daughter, actress Janine Gauntt Turner, and grandchildren Tiffany Gauntt, Turner M. Gauntt IV, Bobby Gauntt, and Juliette Turner. His family loved and adored him and wishes him blue skies and tailwinds forever.
— Janice Gauntt and classmates Adcock, Apperson, Cass, and Turnbull