The staff, customers and friends of the Beeville Publishing Co., Action Printing and the Bee-Picayune were shocked Friday afternoon to learn that Clyde Vincent Semar was killed just north of the DeWitt-Goliad County line in a motorcycle accident.

According to a report filed by the Highway Patrol Trooper Albert Hosking, Semar, who was 57, and his 53-year-old wife, Chong, were northbound on U.S. Highway 183 when the accident happened.

The report said the couple were riding on Semar’s 1998 Kawasaki motorcycle when he apparently lost control just south of FM 237, went into a ditch and rolled.

Family members said they thought the motorcycle might have blown a tire.

Semar was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Bill Robinson and his wife was flown by air ambulance to University Hospital in San Antonio for treatment.

Friends of the family said the Semars were going to see their grandchild when the accident took place.

Friends who visited Chong in the hospital Sunday said she was scheduled for surgery to repair a broken shoulder and a damaged vertebrae.

Texas Department of Public Safety sources said Monday that they still were not sure of the cause of the accident and the incident still was under investigation.

The report indicated that both victims were wearing helmets when the accident occurred.

Semar’s son, John, was reportedly driving a vehicle behind his parents, pulling a trailer with another motorcycle on it when the accident took place.

Funeral services were scheduled for Semar for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Galloway and Sons Funeral Home.

Members of the local motorcycle club to which Semar belonged were arranging to escort the funeral procession from Galloway’s to Glenwood Cemetery.

“Clyde Semar truly was one of the good guys,” said Beeville Bee-Picayune co-Publisher Chip Latcham. “He was always friendly, helpful, dependable. He was willing to pitch in and work wherever the company needed him.

“Whenever advertising sold a lot of preprinted inserts for the Bee-Picayune, Clyde was willing to help hand-insert or work on the inserting machine. He often helped with labeling and getting the newspapers out for the postal deliveries, stores and street sales.

“We will dearly miss his expertise as the longtime head of our Action Printing division of Beeville Publishing Company. Clyde was employed here for almost 22 years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”

Sandy Rice, longtime employee of the company, said, “Clyde was one of those quiet people who was always there, always helpful. He helped John and me get started in motorcycling.”

Print shop superintendent Alex Treviño called Semar a hard worker who liked his job.

“He paid attention to detail,” Treviño said. “He always showed up to work on time.”

Graphic artist Albert Reynolds, who is filling in presently for Semar at the company, said he was impressed with how quickly he caught on to new computer technology.

“He had a vast knowledge of printing and the printing industry,” Reynolds said.

“I have known Clyde for three years but it was in the last year that he became a true friend to me,” said advertising salesperson Stacy Forbes.

“He was always cheerful and willing to help in any way he could. He and I shared a love for all things printing.”

“We often talked about the old methods of printing and how things are so different now. He loved to show me how something worked or how I could do it myself. He even joked about me taking over his job when he retired. I will miss him dearly.”