Maurice "Sandy" Nelson Jr.

October 17, 1937 - July 17, 2022 Maurice "Sandy" Nelson, Jr. passed away on Sunday, the 17th of July 2022, at the age of 84, in Houston, Texas, near his loving wife and daughter.
Born in Springfield, Ohio in 1937, Sandy and his brother Hale Nelson were raised by his mother Katherine (Kay) Wallis and grandmother Katheryn Wallis. He spent the majority of his childhood in St. Louis, MO where he became a diehard St. Louis Cardinal fan from an early age. Sandy attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he married his high school sweetheart Doris and had their first child David. Their second child, Laura, was born shortly after graduation.
Sandy's career within the industrial metals is unparalleled. After an extremely successful career at Alcoa where he led their Aerospace and Commercial Division, Sandy was named President and CEO of the former Inland Steel Company in the early 1990's, an unprecedented appointment at that time. Sandy successfully turned Inland Steel into a powerful force within the domestic steel producing industry and was recognized as a strategic leader willing to take calculated risks in his quest for total quality and service.
After Inland, he went on to take Earle M. Jorgensen public and finally leading the Platinum Equity Group through a major acquisition. Throughout his success, he always maintained his values, making sure his employees made it home for dinner with their families, and treating everyone like a friend. His teams would say he redefined "service leadership". He gave back to the communities in which he engaged and was always willing to serve when asked.
Even more impressive than his work behind the desk was the man he was at home. He married the love of his life, and over the course of their sixty-three-year marriage, had two amazing children, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He always made time to enjoy life, whether it was going to the Rockets games with his grandchildren, Paris with his wife, or a Broadway show with his daughter, and perfectly accounting for every stoplight along the way. Sandy was the most devoted husband and father, he always said that was his greatest achievement. He is survived by his wife Doris; his daughter Laura and life partner Gil; his Granddaughter Kate, her Husband Shaun, their Grandson Enzo Maurice, his Grandson Mason and his wife Anna, their son Pearce. Nephew Hale Nelson, wife Robyn, daughter Jenna.
The Nelson family has lost its patriarch, the metals industry has lost an icon, and for so many we have lost a dear friend. The world won't see another man like the one we so endearing refer to as "Poppies" He will be incredibly missed.
A funeral service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 23rd of July 2022, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
At a later date, the family will gather for a private interment in the Brainerd United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Please view Mr. Nelson's online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com, where memories, words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons - The Funeral Directors, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston, Texas, 77057. (713)789-3005 GeoHLewis.com