Changes

As county judge, Eckels also chaired the Harris County Toll Road Authority, the only county-owned [[toll road]] system in the United States.<ref name=reckels>"America's Bullet Train: Texas Central Railway: Robert Eckels," texascentral.com, accessed March 31, 2014.</ref>Judge Eckles received international recognition for the response by Harris County to [[Hurricane Katrina|Hurricanes Katrina]] and Rita. The Astrodome and Reliant Park became the largest shelter operation in American history, with more than 250,000 residents given refuge during the storm. In 2005, ''Esquire'' magazine' named Eckels the "Best and Brightest - Citizen of the Year" for his leadership during the storms: "When the City of [[New Orleans]] evacuated to Houston, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels was an island of competence in the face of catastrophe." The ''American City and County Magazine'' named Eckels "County Leader of the Year 2006."<ref name=reckels/>

As county judge, Eckels also chaired the Harris County Toll Road Authority, the only county-owned [[toll road]] system in the United States.<ref name=reckels>"America's Bullet Train: Texas Central Railway: Robert Eckels," texascentral.com, accessed March 31, 2014.</ref>Judge Eckles received international recognition for the response by Harris County to [[Hurricane Katrina|Hurricanes Katrina]] and Rita. The Astrodome and Reliant Park became the largest shelter operation in American history, with more than 250,000 residents given refuge during the storm. In 2005, ''Esquire'' magazine' named Eckels the "Best and Brightest - Citizen of the Year" for his leadership during the storms: "When the City of [[New Orleans]] evacuated to Houston, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels was an island of competence in the face of catastrophe." The ''American City and County Magazine'' named Eckels "County Leader of the Year 2006."<ref name=reckels/>

In 2006, Eckels was actually elected to a fourth term as county judge but left some four months later to enter the private sector. Commissioners named transportation consultant and former state Representative [[Ed Emmett]] of Kingwood in northeast Houston to succeed Eckels as county judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=2690|title=Edward Martin Emmett|publisher=Texas State Cemetery|accessdate=March 31, 2014}}</ref>

In 2006, Eckels was actually elected to a fourth term as county judge but left some four months later to enter the private sector. Commissioners named transportation consultant and former state Representative [[Ed Emmett]] of Kingwood in northeast Houston to succeed Eckels as county judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=2690|title=Edward Martin Emmett|publisher=Texas State Cemetery|accessdate=January 16, 2021}}</ref>

Upon his death, Eckels will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.<ref name=statecemetery>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=5630|title=Robert Allen Eckels|publisher=Texas State Cemetery|accessdate=January 16, 2021}}</ref>

Upon his death, Eckels will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.<ref name=statecemetery>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=5630|title=Robert Allen Eckels|publisher=Texas State Cemetery|accessdate=January 16, 2021}}</ref>