Theodore William Legatski Ii

“For the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 5-7

Dr. Theodore William Legatski II, age 76, passed away peacefully the evening of July 6, 2024, at Arlington Memorial Hospital following a reoccurrence of cancer and pneumonia.

Ted was born in Ponca City, OK in 1947. He grew up in Bartlesville, OK as the younger child and son of Ted & Mildred Legatski. Ted earned extra cash accepting bribes from his older sister Cherie’s boyfriends to either leave them alone or serve as lookout. Ted was an active teen, playing football, participating in numerous clubs, including Boys State and following in his father’s footsteps to join the Masons. Ted graduated from College High school class of 1966.

While studying accounting at the University of Arkansas 1968-70, he met his wife, Marlene. The couple was introduced in the cafeteria by Marlene’s roommate, who had traveled to Europe on tour with Ted and the UofA Schola Cantorum choir. The path to love was not smooth as Ted stood up Marlene on their first date. Crafty Ted however, placed a bet with his own roommate that he could convince Marlene to give him another shot. Not to be outdone, Marlene demanded and received the winnings of that bet. Ted was a member of 4 different academic and leadership fraternities while attending both UofA and University of Oklahoma 1970-72. While in college, Ted also encountered Jesus and started his life of faith.

Ted and Marlene were married in August of 1972, living first in Noble, OK and then moving back to Fayetteville, AR where Ted worked for Target as a hardlines manager while Marlene taught 2nd grade in Springdale, AR. They welcomed their first child, Jennifer Ann, shortly after their 2nd wedding anniversary in 1974. New opportunities brought the young family to Irving, TX in 1976, where their second child, Karen Beth joined the family. Ted co-founded his own business working as a traveling sales rep. for companies like Nike and Wilson. Ted often described his “Road to Damascus” moment while traveling through Georgia. During this memorable trip Ted rededicated himself to God and committed to giving himself over to serving God in wherever he was led.

In a bid to expand the new company, Ted and family moved to The Woodlands, TX North of Houston in late July of 1979. Ted and Marlene found themselves joining a newly formed congregation at Sawdust Road Baptist Church. Over the years, Ted started new business ventures as owner of The Winner’s Circle sporting goods and The Montgomery Co. Montessori Center both in Conroe, TX. He served his new community in a variety of ways from president of the S. County Church Athletic league, and as a director for both S. County Friends of the Library and the Softball Association. He was active at SRBC as Sunday School and Bible Study teacher, deacon and eventually as an ordained associate pastor and minister of education. Ted’s discipleship programs at SRBC were ranked in the top 25 for all Southern Baptist churches in Texas.

Following the death of his mother, Mildred in 1984, Ted returned to college part time, rediscovering his love of academic life and quickly completing undergraduate (1989) and master’s (1991) degrees in business at Sam Houston State, Huntsville, TX. When Ted decided to pursue a Ph.D. in business and entrepreneurial leadership at Texas A&M, he sold his business interests. He and Marlene moved to College Station, TX so that he could attend and teach undergrad classes full time. Ted was awarded his doctorate and regalia in time for his 50th birthday, a graduation ceremony Marlene told him he could not skip.

Ted accepted a position as assoc. professor in the management department at Northeastern State University, moving himself and Marlene to Tahlequah, OK in 1996. Ted continued serving his community and God with Marlene as state-approved foster parents, deacon at the First Baptist Church and as board member for the local Kiwanis group, the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, and Kid Connections, Inc. Ted published numerous academic papers, and reviewer for a variety of bodies, including the Southern Mgt Assoc., Southwestern Academy of Mgt., N. American Case Research Assoc, to name a few, while at NSU.

Following his daughters’ wishes to once again have their parents living close by, Ted accepted a position as Professor of Practical Practice at Texas Christian University, Ft Worth TX in 2002. He was extensively involved in the Faculty Senate, serving a term as chair. He also chaired the provost search committee in 2018, was on the Dean’s Search committee in 2019. Ted has been involved in a variety of TCU’s key governing committees including Budget, University Compensation, Academic Excellence, Academic Appeals and many more. Ted also served in administrative roles at TCU as the Department Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation with TCU’s Neeley School of Business. Ted served his TCU family for over 20 years, teaching thousands of students within the management and entrepreneurship departments and was awarded Professor Emeritus status at his retirement from the university in 2023.

While making his home with Marlene in Ft Worth, Ted served as president of both Hollow Hills and East Fort Worth neighborhood associations while attending Arlington First Church of the Nazarene and serving as treasurer, board member and Director of Education Ministries. Ted truly spent his life committed to the principles of Colossians 3:23, “whatever you do, work at it with your whole heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

While we have “lost” our beloved dad, grandfather, father-in-law and husband, we know we are not alone in missing Ted. He was a man who used his gifts of hospitality, mercy and teaching to impact the world around him. He was a generous friend, co-worker and colleague. He stood in the gap as a father to the fatherless, a provider of well-reasoned advice and counsel. He graciously shared his knowledge and supply of power tools, building, landscaping and general wizardry with the except of plumbing, always pay a plumber! He enjoyed sharing his humor with the children around him, teaching his grandchildren as toddlers to claim “plausible deniability” to get out of trouble with their mothers. He has been both coach and cheerleader, co-conspirator and “the man” and the one we all came home to. He will be missed.

However, we take comfort and joy in our assurance that this separation is only temporary. We rest in the promise of John 14, “ I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” We are thrilled that Ted has joined the great cloud of witnesses that includes so many we love. We will hear his voice as we sing his favorite songs and remember…

Ted has joined his parents, Ted and Mildred Legatski, his older sister Cherie Boudreaux, brothers-in law, Dude, Don, and Mike Dugger and sister-in law Wilma, as well as many other dear friends and family members, who we are sure rejoiced to welcome him to his reward. Ted is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marlene, as well as his daughters’ families, Jennifer and Jon Prusansky and their son William, and Karen Beth and Bryn Souther and their children, Grant, Ashleigh and Lorna Beth. We fully understand although we may have carried Ted’s genes, bad knees and all, we are not the sum total of the children and grandchildren of Ted’s heart. We have more adjunct Legatski clan members than we could ever list and we recognize that our grief is a shared one, across many years, places and times. Please know that Ted truly loved each of you, no matter how long it has been since he last saw your face!

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful… Enter into the joy of your Master” Matthew 25:23