Clyde H. Ross, a top sheriff's aide and local law enforcement veteran described as an "outstanding, old-fashioned, crime-fighting cop," died at home of a heart attack. He was 59. At the time of his death, he was a Deputy Chief with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. Ross spent 26 years with the San Antonio Police Department and retired as a lieutenant in January 1993. When then-newly elected Sheriff Ralph Lopez took office that same month, Ross was one of several former police officers who joined the Sheriff's Office as one of his top appointees. Ross headed the community initiatives program at the Sheriff's Office until his death. He previously had been in charge of the patrol, criminal investigations and professional standards and integrity divisions. "We loved him like a brother, we'll miss him and he was one of the best," Lopez, who was ill, said through a spokeswoman.
Police Chief Albert Ortiz said he and Ross had been good friends since the days when he worked under Ross in the patrol division. "He was an old-style police officer who worked hard until the day he retired," Ortiz said. "To him, there was nothing greater in life than putting a 'bad guy' in jail." Ortiz gave Ross the nickname "Claudio Rosas" after Ross told him he wanted a "Hispanic-sounding name." "He was very proud of that nickname and up until the last time I saw him about three weeks ago, he always reminded me that his name was 'Claudio Rosas' and that I had given him that name," the police chief said.
Along with Lopez and deputy chiefs Jim Templeton and Henry Martinez, Ross was known as a good golfer with a three or four handicap. "We were known as the Fearsome Foursome. We were always entering tournaments for the Sheriff's Office, taking on all comers for the last 12 years," Templeton recalled. "We had a tee time for Sunday at Fort Sam. We were going to be part of the 8 a.m. shotgun start."
Clyde also had a love for his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, and joined the LCMC San Antonio Chapter, and was soon elected to the Secretary position. One picture notes how he got his road name. Road Trash, will be missed forever….
