Edwin Harold Fitzhugh

Ret. Sgt. Edwin Harold “Fitz” Fitzhugh (Amarillo Police Department) passed away on January 13, 2013.  Sgt. Fitzhugh was born February 20, 1930 to Zeke and Mahalie Fitzhugh in Lancaster, TX. He married the love of his life Joy Cope on July 1, 1950.  Sgt. Fitzhugh entered the United States Air Force where he obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Sgt. Fitzhugh then joined the Irving Police Department in 1955, before moving to Amarillo and joining the Amarillo Police Department in September 1957.  Sgt. Fitzhugh was injured in the line of duty while serving in the patrol division of APD.  Sgt. Fitzhugh made a full recovery, but was unable to return to patrol.  He was reassigned to the radio communications division of Amarillo Police Department.  Sgt. Fitzhugh became well known throughout the Texas Panhandle for his golden, deep voice, and superior knowledge of the communication age.  Sgt. Fitzhugh was a legendary figure in the dispatch and police network.  He was well known for his yearly Christmas Eve recital of his “BOLO” for the jolly St. Nick over the airwaves of the police radio.  Sgt. Fitzhugh retired from law enforcement in 1986 after nearly four decades of service.  Sgt. Fitzhugh was well known in his retirement to recall stories of his past with great detail and accuracy of events.  His love of law enforcement could be seen in his smile when he told his memories of service.

PRECEDED IN DEATH:  Sgt. Fitzhugh was preceded in death by his wife Joy, a son Dwayne, a granddaughter Meagan Lamberson Green, two brothers and five sisters.

SURVIVORS :  his daughter Elaine Lamberson and husband Bob of Amarillo, daughter Gayle Fitzhugh of Amarillo, granddaughter Mandy Collier and husband Jason of Pampa, TX, and four great-grandchildren Bailey and Tyler Collier of Pampa and Jaythan and Madison Green of Panhandle, TX, and sister Louise Elliott of Duncanville, TX plus numerous nieces and nephews.

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