November 1, 1984
Woman Killed at night spot

A 28 year-old Gladewater woman died early today of gunshot wounds at a Longview club and a 
37 year-old Tatum man was arraigned on a murder charge, according to Longview police spokesman 
Gene Noble. 

The victim was identified as Dawn Hiltzman.

The suspect, Rodger Gale Cunningham, was arraigned before city Judge Lew Dunn and bond was set at 
$20, 000. Noble said Cunningham remained in Longview city jail late this morning.

According to Noble, officers were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. to the Levee club in the 100 block of 
Joplin Street upon a report of a shooting. The officers found 30 or 40 people in a highly agitated 
state, Noble said.

Ms. Hiltzman was found on her back in the front lobby, with one of the crowd giving CPR. One of the 
officers took over the resuscitation attempt until Emergency Medical Services attendants arrived, 
Noble said.

The CPR continued on the way to Good Shepherd Medical Center, but Ms. Hiltzman was dead on arrival.

Patrolman Kirk Haddix, initial investigator talked with witnesses. According to Noble, Haddix was 
told Cunningham and Ms. Hiltzman had been in the club two or three hours celebrating the victim's 
birthday.

The witnesses told Haddix the couple got up and started walking out of the club when they heard a 
shot being fired in the foyer area. The suspect was seen walking out the door, Noble said, when two 
customers tried to stop him. But, Noble added, the suspect turned what appeared to be a weapon in 
their direction and they moved out of the way. 

November 2, 1984
Dawn Hiltzman
Gladewater

Services for Dawn Hiltzman, 28, of Gladewater will be 2 p.m. Monday at Stone Funeral Home with 
Terrell Pearson officiating. 

Burial will be in Grace Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. Hiltzman died Friday morning in Longview.

She was born Nov. 1, 1956, in Gregg County and was a lifetime resident of Longview until moving to 
Gladewater five years ago.

She attended Pine Tree schools. She was a member of the Air Force and was a welder.

Survivors include daughters, Milasa and Elizabeth O'Quinn, both of Longview; sisters, Sheila Hill of 
Gladewater and Pamala Merkel of Giddings; grandmother, Mary Eplion of Chesapeake, Ohio; and a number 
of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.