(CALDWELL)  Funeral services have been set for Caldwell`s Mayor who was killed Monday night in an auto accident near Caldwell.   Bernard Rychlik, 71, died from injuries sustained during the two vehicle wreck.

Visitation for Bernard Rychlik will begin at 6 p.m. with a rosary scheduled for 7 p.m.Thursday at the Caldwell Civic Center on Highway 21. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St Mary`s Catholic Church at 500 West OSR in Caldwell. Overflow from the funeral services will be held at the Civic Center.

According to DPS, the accident happened around 8:15 p.m. on Highway 36, just north of Caldwell.   Rychlik was transported to St. Joseph in Caldwell where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m. by Judge James Baldwin.  The driver of the other vehicle, Calvin Strickland, 46 of Caldwell, and his passenger, 29 year old Sarah Norton of Caldwell, were both taken to St. Joseph in Bryan where they are reported in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash occurred when Rychlik was southbound on State Hwy 36 and attempted a u-turn.  His 2003 Chevrolet Carryall was struck broadside by Strickland`s 1993 GMC, also southbound.  Rychlik had to be extracted from his vehicle by firefighters using the "Jaws of Life," following the crash.

According to the DPS, all 3 victims in the crash were wearing seat belts.

Rychlik, who served on the City Council for more than 30 years, will be sorely missed in the 3,500-or-so member community that came to call him "Mr. Caldwell" long ago.

A longtime employee of Woodson Lumber, Rychlik was also the public address announcer for Caldwell High School football and baseball games for years. He also was at the forefront of publicizing the annual Kolache Festival in Caldwell, which is known as the Kolache Capital of Texas.

The mayor loved sports and polka music, and was a frequent visitor to the KMIL studios during the Awesome 3-Some Polka Show.  And he always made time to visit his three children who live throughout Texas.

With Mayor Rychilk`s death, the City of Caldwell now has to get a new mayor.

For now, that job belongs to Mayor Pro Tem, Norris McManus.  He retired form G-T-E and is now a self-employed businessman.  McManus was elected to the council in 2000.