Damon Bradley McWilliams

1941 - 2025

Damon Bradley McWilliams
12/01/1941 - 08/30/2025
Damon Bradley McWilliams died peacefully on Saturday, the 30th of August 2025, after a brief illness. Brad was born on the 1st of December 1941, in El Paso, Texas to Elizabeth and Rhea McWilliams, and grew up in Bellaire, Texas, attending Bellaire High School. There some of his lifelong friendships were made with those in "The Rat Pack" who got into and out of scrapes and adventures together.
A proud Longhorn, Brad graduated from University of Texas Austin with a BBA and a law degree; he also formed lifelong bonds with his Sigma Chi Brothers. As a student, he experienced international business firsthand through AIESEC, the student exchange program. He was a board member, traveled for AIESEC, enjoyed two overseas internships, and had visited fifty-two countries by his graduation.
He joined the International Tax Division of Deloitte and Touche, gaining experience in New York and San Francisco. But Houston called again with an opportunity at Cooper Industries, a small company in 1970. It grew to a $5 billion, Fortune 500 Listing by the time he retired as Chief Financial Officer. Along the way, he attended the Harvard Business School AMD program. Brad also shared his business acumen as a board member of two publicly held companies: Babcock & Wilcox Company and McDermott International.
On his return to Houston, he met the love of his life, Laura Clyburn, a fellow UT graduate, on a blind date to an ice hockey game. They married in 1985 and shared forty years of laughter, companionship, and adventure. Together, they delighted in exploring the world-always seeking out the finest vineyards, the most memorable meals, and the joy of travel. Brad was an avid wine collector and a proud member of the Seventh of April Club as well as River Oaks Country Club.
Hunting and fishing at the family ranch in Crockett, Texas, instilled in Brad an appreciation of the outdoors and its wildlife. As a member of the International Order of St. Hubertus, his sporting trips included forays from Alaska to Argentina. After his retirement, Brad and Laura owned a ranch near Durango, Colorado, where they enjoyed watching the elk, deer, and bears from their deck.
Brad had a long history of community involvement. As a teen he worked at the Bellaire YMCA. He believed in its outreach and became a Board member of the YMCA of the Greater Houston Area and eventually Chairman of the Board; he was honored when a YMCA Branch was named after him. The health sector also was a priority, and Brad joined the Development Board, then the Executive Committee, of the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston (UT Health). Through UT Health, he made advanced research possible through the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics in 2023. He served on various other boards and in 2021 provided the jump start funding for the McWilliams Dog Park in Hermann Park. Houston Grand Opera and the Association of Community Broadcasting (KUHT) were two of his cultural interests.
Brad loved his family and friends deeply and enjoyed most being with them. He is survived by his wife Laura Clyburn McWilliams; his brothers Rhea McWilliams Jr. and wife Karen; John Parkes McWilliams and wife Jo; James McWilliams; and Edward McWilliams and wife Suzie. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews Alex McWilliams, Jennifer Pruitt, John McWilliams, and Heather McWilliams and husband Sean Hickey, and great-nieces Bethany Pruitt and Alexandra Hickey. He is predeceased by his parents and his great-niece Audrey Anna Hickey.
He appreciated the care given to him by Nereida Araujo, Juanito Barroga, and Anita Mendez. With their grace and understanding, Brad was able to enjoy life to its fullest. The family will gather for a private service and interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. On the afternoon of October 7th, Brad's family invites all his many friends to a reception honoring a life well lived at a location to be announced.
For those unable to attend the service in-person, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting Brad's online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon in the service section.
Memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA, P.O. Box 3007, Houston 77253; to UT Health Houston, 7000 Fannin, Suite 1200, Houston 77030; Houston Grand Opera, 510 Preston Street, Houston 77002, or the charity of one's choice.