Weldon Homer Smith

WELDON HOMER SMITH, born November 18, 1912 to Edgar Arthur and Clara Smith in Nevada, Texas, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on December 10, 2004. He was a devout Christian who deeply loved his family, friends, country, and The University of Texas. He will be greatly missed and will be eternally remembered for his genuine kindness, his vast philanthropic and civic endeavors. Weldon grew up on a farm southeast of Nevada, Texas, graduated from Nevada High School and received a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin in 1934. On January 31, 1936, he married Madora Leach in Houston, before being sent to Casper, Wyoming to open a branch office for Reed Roller Bit Co. During those years in Wyoming, they had two daughters, Rowena and Shirley. In 1945, Weldon moved his family back to Houston to take over the position of Assistant Sales Manager for Hunt Tool Company. In 1949, he became President of Big "6" Drilling Company in Houston, where he served the remainder of his life as President and then Chairman of the Board of Directors. After the death of his wife, Madora, in 1978, he married Mary Alice Moore on April 21, 1979 in Houston. Weldon's civic interests were many, being a member of Second Presbyterian Church, which became Grace Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder for 30 years. He was on the Board of the Presbyterian Seminary in Austin for 20 years. The Churches of Houston named him Churchman of the Year in 1950. Later in life he joined St. Martin's Episcopal Church with his wife Mary. He was an active member of the YMCA membership and fundraising campaigns. Weldon received the Distinguished Service Award from the Houston Exchange Club, where he was a longtime member. He was also a member of the Institute of Religion and was active in their campaigns. Weldon was Chairman of the Houston chapter of the American Association of Oil Drilling Contractors. For much of his life, Weldon has been deeply fond of and committed to The University of Texas, its Texas Ex-Students Association and The University of Texas Athletic Department. He has been a member of the Longhorn Foundation and was a member of the Executive Committee of The University of Texas Chancellors Council. Weldon served as President of the Houston chapter of The University of Texas Ex-Students Association and received the honor of Distinguished Alumnus for The University of Texas in 1998. He was also very committed to the Republican Party and served in 1980 as Ronald Reagan's Presidential campaign manager for Harris County. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to be a member of the National Petroleum Council. He served on the Board of Directors of The Center for Speech and Hearing for many years and was instrumental in numerous fund raising endeavors. Weldon enjoyed his years spent as a sponsor and chaperone for the Lamar High School Choralettes. Weldon was a member of the Houston Country Club and had a great interest in many sports, mainly football, golf, tennis and track. Weldon was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Arthur Smith and Clara McCain Smith of Nevada, his former wife, Madora Leach Smith, his brother, Herman McCain Smith of Kerrville, his sisters, Ouida Blanche Smith of Deport, Texas, Lola Merle Smith Cole of Houston, and Dorothy Ruth Smith of Wiley, Texas. Weldon is survived by his loving wife, Mary Moore Smith and children Rowena Smith Reynolds and her husband, Carl of Wharton, Shirley Smith Walsh of Houston, Mary Patricia Moore of Houston, Anne Moore Eppright and her husband Richard of Fredericksburg, Charles B. Moore, Jr. of Oakland, California, Catherine Moore Wenske and her husband Dennet of Austin. Surviving grandchildren are Neil Dayvault Reynolds and his wife Kathy of Wharton, Sheree Reynolds Key and her husband Gary of Sugarland, and Julie Elizabeth Reynolds of Wharton, Ryan Myles Walsh and Jenny Maree Walsh of Houston, Emily Collier Eppright and Richard Thomas Eppright, Jr. of Fredericksburg, Morgan Elizabeth Wenske and Dennet R. Wenske, Jr of Austin. Also surviving are three great grandchildren Heather Nicole Reynolds and Holli Maree Reynolds of Wharton, and Hayde Reynolds Key of Sugarland. He is also survived by three brothers, Edgar Arthur Smith and his wife Wilhelmina of Houston, Joe Houston Smith and his wife Mary of Waller, and Max Howard Smith and his wife Johnnie of Garland and two sisters Jean Smith Allbritton of Houston and Emil Smith Watkins of Brownfield, Texas. Honored to serve as pallbearers are James K. Cole, Richard T. Eppright, John T. Pappadas, M.D., F. Kyle Reid, Kent H. Smith, Thomas E. Smith, Donald F. Taylor, and Dennet R. Wenske. Honoring Weldon as honorary pallbearers are The Honorable Bill Archer, Chester B. Benge, Jr., The Honorable John Culberson, Dr. William H. Cunningham, James B. Harder, Tasos J. Pappadas, George W. Strake, Jr., Walter A. Stockard, Michael D. Stone, and E. Clifton Wilson. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening on Monday, the 13th of December, in the Library of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. The funeral service will be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 14th of December, in The New Church of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, with The Rev. Laurence A. Gipson, D.D. as lead officiant. Immediately following the service, the family will receive friends during a reception at the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall. An interment service for the family will follow at the Cemetery of Forest Park Lawndale in Houston. In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be directed to The Center for Hearing and Speech, 3636 West Dallas, Houston, TX, 77019; St. Martin's Episcopal Church Building Fund, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056; and/or The Texas Ex-Students Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX, 78712.