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Donald W. Becker of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on March 9, 2010, at the age of 85. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on Dec. 22, 1924 to Lester S. and Marion Becker. He was preceded in death last year by his loving wife of 62 years, Joetta, After graduation from high school in 1943, he began attending Stanford University under a US Army deferred enlistment program. When the shortage of able-bodied men to fight in the war became dire, his program was cancelled and he was sent to France and served as a combat infantryman with the 106th Division. Amidst brutally frozen conditions in France's Ardennes Forest in December of 1944, his rifle company was overwhelmed by advancing German tank forces and he was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. Forced by the Germans to march for days through snow and ice, he suffered severe frostbite. He was then held as a prisoner of war in Germany's Bad Orb Prison Camp from January 1945 until he was liberated by General Patton's tank forces on Easter Sunday, April 1945. Nearly dying of starvation during captivity, he weighed only 106 pounds when finally liberated. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered during his capture. Immediately after the war, he courted and married Joetta and began his career in the photographic industry with Stanley Photo Service in St. Louis. Starting in retail store management, and under the guidance of his mentor, Stanley Wurtz, Don became Vice President, General Manager of Stanley Photo Service in 1952. In 1961, Stanley Photo merged with The Fox Company of San Antonio, Texas, and became a publicly traded company known as Fox Stanley Photo Products, Inc. Don was named Executive Vice President, General Manager and a Director of the newly formed company. He and his family relocated to San Antonio, Texas in 1962. In 1970, Don became President and Chief Operating Officer of the company. Under his direction, Fox enjoyed its most explosive growth to a company having over 500 retail locations and 4, 500 employees, leading to its listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1978. In 1979 he was elected Chairman of the Board. According to former Fox Photo colleagues, Don's mark on the company and the industry was his strategic market positioning of Fox Photo as the industry leader in guaranteed speed of service which included the highly successful retail campaign, "Ready Tomorrow or Free". His strategy necessitated a major change in operational philosophy from traditional daytime photofininishing production to night time production in order to meet the marketing commitments of Fox. Fox's sales skyrocketed and guaranteed speed of service became the standard of expectation for consumers and the legacy of Don Becker at Fox Photo. He retired from Fox Photo in 1982 and became a business consultant. Over the years his client list has included Kodak, PMA, Fuji and numerous regional photofinishers as well as other non-photo industry companies. Because of his knowledge and understanding of the photographic industry, Don served as an expert witness in several high profile industry related federal court trials, mostly notably the lifting of the Kodak antitrust consent decree in 1994. Becker also served as President of Photo Marketing Association International, the industry trade association, from 1978 to 1979. On behalf of PMA, he traveled the world as an ambassador for the picture taking industry on behalf of PMA's 17, 000 members from over 100 countries. In 1989 he received the PMA's Distinguished Service Award and in 2005, was inducted into the PMA Hall of Fame, the highest honor given by PMA for achieving personal success and helping advance the photo imaging industry. He served on numerous boards over the years, including the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Board of Trustees, the Methodist Hospital Board of Trustees, and Oak Hills Country Club Board of Directors. An avid hobbyist, he enjoyed flying planes, playing golf, collecting stamps, guns and cars, operating his ham radio and ranching. He was a mentor to many friends and was loved and respected by all who knew him. There is no question that he will quickly locate the nearest Jim's Coffee Shop in Heaven where he will be available to dispense sage advice. He is survived by his brother Douglas L. Becker of Austin, his daughter Dona Becker Berchelmann and her husband Judge David Berchelmann, Jr. of San Antonio, and by his son Douglas W. Becker and his wife Kim of San Antonio; granddaughters Ashley Berchelmann Sholiton and her husband Mike, Laura Becker Fontaine and her husband Christopher, Shelby Berchelmann, Mackenzie Becker and Mallory Becker; grandson David Berchelmann III and his wife Mallory; and numerous nieces and nephews. David Berchelmann, Jr., David Bechelmann III, Gary Greenberg, Mike Kelly, Mike Sholiton, John Thurman will serve as active pallbearers and Jack Bergmann, Preston Clancy, Jack Merrell, Don Mueller, and Bruce Zilbert will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family would like to thank Peggy Brown at Jim's Coffee Shop and the staffs at Morningside Manor at Menger Springs-Kendall House, Caring Senior Services, and AMed Hospice for their compassion and loving care. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association, The American Cancer Society or to the charity of your choice in Don's memory. Services The family will receive friends from 5:30 - 7:00 PM Friday, March 12, 2010 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. Church services will be held at 2:30 PM Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Oak Hills Presbyterian Church with Reverend Katheryn Barlow-Williams officiating. Interment will follow at Mission Burial Park North.

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Donald W. Becker

December 22, 1924 - March 9, 2010