The Austin High School community named the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) building in honor of Sergeant First Class (SFC) Freddy L. Dickey, a U.S. Army veteran and longtime educator.
Dickey devoted more than four decades to service, 22 years in the military and another 22 shaping young lives as a JROTC instructor, athletic coach and mentor in the Houston Independent School District.
The ceremony drew more than 70 attendees, including family members, former students, faculty and community leaders.
A life of service
Born in Porter, Texas and a 1976 graduate of Huntsville High School, Dickey spent two decades in the Army, earning multiple honors, including the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. After retiring from active duty in 1999, he pursued higher education in project management and criminal justice while beginning a new chapter at Austin High School.
There, Dickey became more than an instructor. To the 300 cadets he taught annually, he was a mentor, confidant and father figure. Known affectionately as “Grandpa,” he had a contagious smile and a gift for connecting with students, whether by sharing ramen noodles in his office, cracking jokes or helping change a student’s engine oil on a sweltering day.
Since 1999, he has mentored thousands of students, instilling in them the values of military leadership, self-discipline and service. Beyond the classroom, he served as an athletic coach and trusted guide to youth across the district, impacting over 300 cadets each year.
Family reflections
For Dickey’s wife and children, the dedication was deeply personal.
“Being his daughter, I was blessed,” said his daughter Connie Dickey. “Words cannot even express the knowledge of what he accomplished in our honor, all of his accolades and such. But in other words, to see this happening is profound and words fail to express.”
Dickey’s son, NeAndrew Dickey, described the renaming as “a huge milestone” for the family and community.
“It shows us and the world how big a heart he had towards everybody and how much he meant to everybody,” he said.
Respect and determination, his children noted, were the central lessons he instilled within them.
Community leader and a family friend of the Dickeys, Dr. Meochea Money, called it “a celebration of his honor and legacy” and emphasized its historic importance.
“People were happy and very joyful,” said Money, who helped coordinate the event. “In his honor, they [attendees] were just remembering the great things that he’s done in the community. He was impactful in people’s lives…I do believe he left his legacy and set the bar high for just not only individuals that have served in the community, but also served the country.”
Struggles behind the tribute
While the day was filled with pride and gratitude, family members also revealed challenges in bringing the dedication to fruition. While the HISD school board announced in 2022 that it would honor Dickey by naming the ROTC building after him, the family said they were left to cover most of the associated costs: More than $4,500 for signage, custodial services and security.
“But, they did not pay for the funding,” said Connie Dickey. “So, my mother and I got together and paid for that building…They [HISD] were taking so long that I just said, ‘This is long enough, I hate procrastination. I will get this started.’”
Despite the frustration, the family insists the sacrifice was worth it.
“It was an honor to have that unveiled,” said Mary Dickey, his wife. “We did a lot, but it was worth it.”
A lasting legacy
SFC Freddy L. Dickey’s impact is etched not just in the walls of Austin High School’s ROTC building, but in the lives of thousands of students and families who continue to carry his lessons.
“He was one of a kind,” his daughter said. “He was more than a father; he was a conqueror to many. His legacy will live on.”
