Former Southlake Mayor and Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes has passed at the age of 75.
He will always be remembered as a visionary leader, dedicated public servant and the ultimate “transportation guru” for the region. Fickes served as Southlake’s mayor from 1989 to 1996 and later as Tarrant County Commissioner for 18 years, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the area’s growth, infrastructure and sense of community.
During an immense period of population growth his leadership was especially transformative in the realm of transportation, where he was instrumental in securing funding and driving monumental projects like the DFW Connector -- a $1.5 billion initiative that dramatically improved mobility for Southlake, Grapevine and surrounding cities. Under his tenure, his precinct added more than 1,100 miles of roadway, and he consistently championed regional cooperation to address traffic and infrastructure needs.
His impact was so profound that the annual Leadership in Mobility award was renamed the Gary Fickes Leadership Award, and upon his retirement the county’s Northeast Courthouse was also named in his honor.
On November 7th 2024, Tarrant County commissioners officially renamed its courthouse after former Southlake Mayor and longtime Precinct 3 Commissioner Gary Fickes.
Fickes also valued teamwork and community spirit, frequently crediting others and emphasizing that “it takes a team, you can’t do it by yourself.” He worked tirelessly to ensure that Southlake and northeast Tarrant County remained a desirable place to live, focusing on top-tier schools, healthcare and economic development.
Beyond his official roles, Fickes founded the Southlake Historical Society, further demonstrating his commitment to preserving the city’s heritage and fostering civic pride.
Fickes’ lifetime of leadership and accolades included roles within the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition and as a board member of the Metroport Cities Partnership. Other roles included chairman of both the Southlake Planning and Zoning Commission and the Southlake Chamber of Commerce. Fickes was honored as Southlake Citizen of the Year in 1990, received the Distinguished Community Leader award from the Northeast Leadership Forum in 2002, the TXDoT “Road Hand” Award in 2004, the Healthcare Hero Award from FW Business Press in 2013 and Southlake Style’s Community Impact Award in 2014.
Memorial services honoring Commissioner Fickes will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hurst Conference Center.
For a more in-depth look at Gary Fickes, read our feature “Settling for More” originally published in December 2014.