Searcy Bracewell

BRACEWELL, SEARCY

Searcy Bracewell was born in Houston (Harrisburg) on January 19, 1918. He was the son of J.S. Bracewell (1892-1965) and Lola Blount Bracewell (1896-1985), both of Grimes County, Texas. He graduated from Milby High School and lived in Houston all his life. He died at the age of 85 on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at his home while enjoying lunch and a game of cards with his friends. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Weaver Bracewell; his brother, Fentress Bracewell; his son, Joe Bracewell (wife Peggy) of Washington, D.C. and daughter, Betsy Machac (husband, David Machac) of Roans Prairie, Texas; his niece, Lyn Bracewell Phillips (husband, Chief Justice Tom Phillips); nephew, Brad Bracewell (wife, Kathy); his grandchildren, Eric Machac (wife, Staci), Clare Bracewell, Melissa Machac Burleson (husband, Rick), Stephanie Machac, Patrick Bracewell, Charles Bracewell, and Jacob Machac; his great-grandchildren, Crystal Machac and Courtney Machac, great nieces and nephews, Thomas Kirkham, Bradley Bracewell, Laynie Bracewell, Mollie Bracewell, Daniel Phillips and Edward Bracewell, numerous cousins, and countless friends.

Searcy Bracewell graduated from Texas A&M in 1938. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Volunteers, and drum major of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. A lifelong supporter of Texas A&M, he served as Chairman of the Chancellor's Century Council, President of the Texas A&M Research Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Visitors of Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Chairman of the Sul Ross Group of the Texas A&M Former Students Association. He was also a member of the Texas A&M President's Council, the Board of the Former Students Association, and the Advisory Committee of the Texas A&M University Development Foundation. He was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M and named "Outstanding Houston Aggie" in 1978. Last year, he received the Texas Aggie Lawyer of the Year Award from the Texas A&M Bar Association and also was inducted into the prestigious Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. Four days before his death, he donned a cap and gown for the graduation ceremonies at Texas A&M's Galveston Campus, where he presented the Board of Visitors Award to a graduating senior.

Searcy Bracewell attended Houston Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1940. In 1945, along with his father and brother, he founded the law firm now known as Bracewell & Patterson. Headquartered in Houston, the firm now has over 350 lawyers with offices in eleven cities in three countries. He was a member of the Houston and Texas Bar Associations, as well as the District of Columbia Bar. He was a charter member of the Texas Bar Fellows, a member of the Houston Bar Foundation, and chairman of the Texas Utility Lawyers Association. He retired from active law practice in 1988, but was a frequent participant in firm meetings and functions. The week before his death, he attended an orientation luncheon for Bracewell & Patterson's 2003 summer associates.

As a former Texas A&M Cadet, Searcy Bracewell was called to active duty as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1941. After an initial assignment as a cavalry officer at Fort Clark, he shipped out to England in 1943 to join the forces gathering for the invasion of Europe. He was assigned to a position as Assistant G-4 on the staff of Gen. George Patton's Third Army, where he served until the end of the war. He was awarded the European Theater Medal with five battle stars and was honorably discharged as a major in 1945.

Searcy Bracewell served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 and in the Texas Senate from 1949 to 1959. He was selected "Outstanding Young Man in Houston" in 1952. Among his many accomplishments in the Texas Legislature, he authored bills establishing the institutions that have since become The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, and providing for the education of mentally retarded children. He served as President Pro-Tem of the Texas Senate and then retired from public office after an unsuccessful race for the United States Senate in 1957. He continued to be active in politics and government affairs, serving on the Houston City Charter Commission and as Chairman of the Texas Water Development Board. He was a founding member of the Friday Club and frequently presented a Flexibility Award to politicians who demonstrated "the ability to rise above principle to meet the exigencies of the situation."

After World War II, in addition to practicing law, Searcy Bracewell worked with his father to expand the work of the Broadway Plan, a company founded by J.S. Bracewell to assist churches in financing their building programs. From 1936 to 1979, the Broadway Plan was used by more than 3,802 churches in 47 states and two foreign countries. His interest in the world of business led him to serve for five years as a managing director of Shearson Lehman Brothers, and as a Board member of Union National Bank, West University Bank, Houston Industries, and Houston Lighting & Power Company.

Along with his wife Elizabeth, Searcy Bracewell was active in numerous organizations and civic endeavors. He served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Houston Grand Opera, Chairman of the Board of The Shoulder, a Board member and interim President of the South Texas College of Law, a Trustee of the Houston Foundation, a Board member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Lyric Theater Foundation during construction of the Wortham Theater. A lifelong member of Kiwanis, he served as President of the Kiwanis Club of Eastern Houston, Lt. Governor of the Texas-Oklahoma District, and a Trustee of the Kiwanis Foundation. He actively supported Elizabeth in her leadership roles in the Houston Junior Forum and the Harris County Heritage Society. Along with his brother Fentress, Searcy Bracewell received the 1977 Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Research Foundation. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law in 1973 from the South Texas College of Law, and received the 1996 Leon Jaworski Award for public service from the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary.

Searcy Bracewell was a member of Second Baptist Church and the Worthwhile Class. He served as Chairman of the Building Committee for the construction of the Worship Center from 1983 to 1986.

The family will receive friends at GEO. H. LEWIS & SONS, 1010 Bering Drive from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2003. Interment will take place at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service in the Worship Center of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, at 1 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2003, with Dr. H. Edwin Young and Dr. James DeLoach, officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are the partners at Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P. In lieu of flowers, those desiring to do so may make contributions to The Music Fund of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway, Houston, Texas 77057.