David Underwood

1937 - 2015

David Milton Underwood
1937-2015
David Milton Underwood (age 78) passed away peacefully on the 30th of August 2015 at his home in Houston, Texas surrounded by his family. Beyond all of his many accomplishments, David will be remembered by those who knew him for his exceptional integrity, tender-heartedness, profound kindness, servant-like leadership, and most of all for his love for the Lord, home, and family. David laughed often and brightened others' spirits with his quick wit while golfing, riding horses, hunting, serving generously on boards, and traveling with friends and family. He truly made the world a better place and many will miss him greatly.
David was born in Houston, Texas on the 5th of March 1937 to Milton Ramon Underwood and Catherine Fondren Underwood. He attended The Kinkaid School and graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1954 and from Yale University in 1958. At Yale, he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. He attended the Institute of Investment Banking at The Wharton School of Finance, graduating in 1969, and he received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from The University of St. Thomas in 1995.
After graduating from Yale, David spent three years on active duty in the Army Reserve, attaining the rank of Captain, Armor USAR. In 1962, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his distinctive service while at Fort Polk, Louisiana during the Berlin Crisis. His days of service and his fellow troops were always remembered in his prayers. In 1960, David began his working career at Underwood Neuhaus & Co., Inc. where he remained through its many successor organizations since that time. He most recently served as Managing Director of Wells Fargo Advisors.
In addition to his broker/advisor career, David was President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of his family company, Feliciana Corporation. He was also active in the securities industries for many years. From 1978 to 1981, David was a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), District 6 Business Conduct Committee, serving as its Chairman from 1980 to 1981. He served as a Governor on the NASD Board from 1982 to 1985 and as its Vice Chairman from 1984 to 1985. During his service with the Board of Governors, David was a Board member of a subsidiary corporation of the NASD, Market Services, Inc., and served as Chairman of the NASD Qualifications Committee. He also served the Securities Industry Association as a member of the National Economic Education Committee and a Trustee of the Foundation for Economic Education. He was a Director and President of the Texas Stock and Bond Dealers Association.
David had extraordinary devotion to serving the community, and some of his most notable activities included the following: The Fondren Foundation, member of its Board of Governors; The Houston Methodist Health Care System, Director and Vice-Chairman of its Board of Directors; Texas Medical Center, Chairman of its Board of Directors; The Kinkaid School, Life Trustee; The Kinkaid Endowment Fund, Inc., Chairman; and Phillips Academy Andover, Charter Trustee from 1983 to 2004 and President of its Board of Directors from 1989 to 2004.
David received many honors. In 1997, he was honored by the American Leadership Forum, of which he was a Senior Fellow, by receiving the Joseph Jaworski Leadership Award. In 2002, Neighborhood Centers, Inc. awarded him the Alice Graham Baker Crusader Award. In 2003, he received the Fuess Award for community service from Phillips Academy Andover. In 2006, the Texas Medical Center dedicated the David M. Underwood Boulevard in his honor. He received the Maurice Hirsch Award for Philanthropy from the Houston Chapter of the Society of Fund Raising Professionals in 2010.
David is predeceased by his parents Milton R. and Catherine F. Underwood, and his brother, Peter Fondren Underwood. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 50 years, Lynda Knapp Underwood and his son, David M. Underwood, Jr., his wife Christine, and four children: Hannah Alexandra Underwood, David M. Underwood III, William Peter Underwood, and Elizabeth Louise Underwood; his daughter, Catherine Underwood Murray, her husband John Fulton Murray III and three daughters: Catherine Fondren Murray, Elizabeth Tillar Murray, and Margaret Littlefield Murray; his son Duncan Knapp Underwood, his wife Sarah and two children: Austin Duncan Underwood and Riley Cannon Underwood; his brother-in-law, Alfred J. Knapp, Jr. and his wife Carmen; his sister-in-law Leticia Lykes Knapp; numerous Knapp family nieces and nephews; and numerous Fondren family, Allday family, Trammell family, and Whitfield family cousins.
David was a member of Allegro (past Chairman), The Bayou Club of Houston (past President), Houston Country Club (past President), River Oaks Country Club, Coronado Club, Houston Club, The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, NM, and Eldorado Country Club in Indian Wells, CA.
The family would like to thank the doctors of Houston Methodist Hospital and, in particular, Dr. Alberto Barroso, Dr. A. Osama Gaber, Dr. Richard Goldfarb, Dr. Robert Jackson, Dr. Thomas Kaleekal, Dr. Suresh Manickavel, Dr. Scott Scheinin, Dr. Neeraj Sinha, Dr. Richard Stasney, as well as the entire transplant team of the J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center and the entire nursing staff of the third floor Fondren CVICU with special thanks to the devoted and steadfast care of Ana Schulte Ladbeck, Lynda Nguyen, and Jennifer Staha. The family would also like to extend a special thanks to his dedicated and caring nurses Jairo "Giovanni" Silva, Izuchukwu "Izzy" Atueyi, Nereida "Nettie" Cardenas, and Christiana Adeshewo.
His memorial service will be at eleven o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 3rd of September, in the sanctuary of The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston.
Immediately following the service, all are invited to join the family at a celebration reception in honor of David's life at a venue to be announced during the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in support of the Houston Methodist J.C. Walter Jr. Transplant Center c/o Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210-4384 or the charitable organization of your choice.