Charles Harold Samson Jr.

1924 - 2017

Charles Harold

Samson, Jr.

July 12, 1924 - June 15, 2017

BRYAN, TX - Charles Harold Samson, Jr., servant-leader and educator and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Thursday, June 15, 2017. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, June 26, 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center, Bryan. A Life Celebration Service will be held Tuesday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at A&M United Methodist Church, College Station, following a private family graveside service.

Born July 12, 1924 to Marie Gertrude (Morris) and Charles Harold Samson, Sr., Chuck spent his youth in Portsmouth, Waverly and Dayton, Ohio, earning Eagle Scout ranking in 1938 in Portsmouth. He developed a love for tennis playing in the street (no net) in front of the Portsmouth family home, later gaining Junior Davis Cup training in Cincinnati, Ohio, and lettering every year in high school. He graduated high school from Denver South High School, Colorado.

He returned to Ohio in 1941 for college at The Ohio State University, where, as a varsity tennis team member, he won the Big 10 No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. In 1943, he joined the Navy V-2 program and was sent to Notre Dame University, where he pursued civil engineering and varsity tennis. He also began a four-year courtship with a local South Bend, Indiana girl, Ruth Baumbach. At Notre Dame, “Charlie Samson” lettered in tennis for three years, was team captain for two, and was the NCAA singles finalist (losing to Pancho Segura) in 1944. He was commissioned ensign in the Civil Engineering Corps during World War II, continuing after the war in the Naval Reserve until 1956.

He returned to Notre Dame in 1946 to complete his B.S. degree and one year of tennis eligibility. His cross-country tournaments the following summer included the Ohio Valley Tournament, where he won the men's doubles with Tony Trabert and the singles for the third time, retiring the “Lone Eagle Trophy.” He and Ruth married in late 1947 and stayed in South Bend for Chuck's completion of his M.S. in Civil Engineering from Notre Dame. His decision to make engineering his career profession over an active tennis career took him to the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1949 for Ph.D. studies in structural engineering.

A move in 1951 to Ft. Worth brought Chuck and Ruth to Texas for his employment with General Dynamics. They welcomed the birth of their daughter, Peggy, in 1952. They returned to Notre Dame the next year, where Chuck served on the faculty in Civil Engineering and was tennis coach for the next two years, which cemented his place at Notre Dame as a “living legend” in the sport. In 1955, he and Ruth welcomed the birth of their son, Charles, III.

Chuck and family returned to Fort Worth and General Dynamics in 1956. In 1960, he accepted an offer to join Texas A&M as professor in Civil and Aerospace Engineering. He soon headed the Structural Research Department at the Texas Transportation Institute as well. This was the start of a distinguished association with Texas A&M that completed his adult professional life splitting time between academic and athletic interests.

In 1964, he was appointed head of Civil Engineering and led the department for the next 15 years. President Earl Rudder appointed him to the Texas A&M Athletic Council in 1967. In 1970 Chuck became chair and faculty representative to the Southwest Conference (SWC). He was credited with the foresight that expedited Texas A&M's leadership in the SWC for support for Title IX and women's sports and gender equity in intercollegiate athletics. He served as SWC president from 1979-1981. He was Texas A&M's institutional representative to the NCAA from 1972-1985, and was an NCAA vice president from 1981-1983 and NCAA council member from 1983-1985.

Chuck was named acting president of Texas A&M in July, 1980, serving 14 months in that role and subsequently as vice president for planning. In 1994, he retired as professor emeritus, and continued in private consulting for several years.

Throughout his career in teaching and research, he held offices with numerous professional engineering societies, most notably as president of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and later as president of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was active with at least nine other organizations connected with the engineering profession, educational system, or public good and held honorary memberships in five honorary engineering societies.

He was named distinguished engineer by the Texas Engineering Foundation in 1981. The University of Notre Dame awarded him an Engineering Honor Award in 1982, and in 1994 nominated him for the Rolex Achievement Award. The University of Missouri-Columbia awarded him an Honor Award in Engineering in 2006.

Chuck was dedicated to the Lord through the United Methodist Church. A serious student of the Bible, he taught church-school classes over the years and more recently led a bible study for a short period at Watercrest at Bryan. He had many leadership roles serving A&M United Methodist Church, A&M Wesley Foundation and the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was also active in numerous community organizations, particularly with the Brazos Valley Symphony Society after his retirement.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, Marie Gertrude and Charles, Sr.; his elder sister, Mary June McLaren; and infant daughter, Barbara Ann. Surviving him are his wife of almost 70 years, Ruth Samson of Bryan; daughter, Peggy Samson of Bryan; son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Sherese Samson of Larue, Texas; two grandsons and spouse, Jim Skates of Larue and Keith and Reagan Skates of Paradise, Texas; and great-grandsons, Easton Skates and Braden Skates of Paradise.

The family extends gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Berigan, M.D., Internal Medicine Center, Bryan, for Chuck's care over the years. They also extend appreciation to the caregivers with Right at Home, Bryan, especially Rubie Ali. Special thanks also goes to staff with Encompass Home Health & Hospice for their kindness and care during the last weeks of Chuck's journey. In lieu of flowers, please consider a remembrance in Chuck's memory to A&M United Methodist Church, College Station, or to a charity of choice.