Myron Fuller Steves Sr.

Myron said he received a lot of credit just for having lived a long time. He turned 103 on July 11th.
Myron started a business that is now celebrating its 60th year. He could whistle, sing salty songs, and danced into his 90's. He had a bowtie for every occasion, and dressed with style. He swam and did Pilates every week into his 100's. To our large family, he was our beloved and witty "Pop".
Myron was born in Atlanta, GA in 1912. He studied history at Emory University, funding his education during the Great Depression working at a library, movie palace, and the university ER. He graduated in 1934 and began a career in insurance.
In 1938, he was transferred to New Orleans where he joined the Louisiana National Guard in one of the last mounted cavalry units. Myron met his wife, Maria Luisa Benteen, at the stable where his unit worked. Maria came from a military family and was an avid horseback rider herself. Myron and Maria Luisa were married in 1940.
Myron wanted to pursue a military career, but in 1940 he was injured in a serious head-on car accident. A month later he was discharged due to his injuries. Later when he was mostly healed Myron attempted to join the service, but all branches turned him down.
Myron took this setback in stride and continued his insurance career with an upbeat attitude. He and Maria Luisa transferred to Mobile, Alabama in 1941 to open a new office for his company. They lived there for 10 years.
In Mobile, Myron discovered CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), the professional designation of property and casualty insurance. By 1949 he passed all the examinations and received his designation at the Annual Meeting in Dallas. There he met some people from Houston that eventually resulted in a job offer to start a general agency in Houston. The family boarded the Sunset Limited in Mobile and arrived in Houston on a cold bright sunshiny day in January 1951.
In 1955, he founded Myron F. Steves & Company with one employee and $10 in the bank.
Hurricane Carla in 1961 almost ran him out of business, but Myron never gave up, forging ahead and focusing on the positive. Myron F. Steves & Company now has over 200 employees, offices across Texas, and is celebrating its 60th year. Myron retired in 1989.
Myron was the last surviving founding member of the Houston Chapter of CPCU. He was president of the chapter in 1955. In 1998 Myron received the Standard Setter Award from the national Society of CPCU. Myron was also President of the Texas Surplus Lines Association in 1971. Myron was especially proud of one award from the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston. In 1988 he received their Outstanding Service Award generally awarded to a retail agent, not a wholesale agent.
Myron was an award-winning whistler and a ballroom dancer with his wife Maria Luisa. He was active with the Boy Scouts from 1949 to 1965 in various adult leadership roles. He was a lover of baseball and an avid fan of the Houston Buffaloes, and later, the Astros. He loved traveling around the world.
In recent years he thoroughly enjoyed researching family history, genealogy, and working with the Paul Carrington Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was President of the Chapter in 2005 at age 93, and was the George Washington Distinguished Service Award honoree in 2010.
Myron and Maria Luisa were also active in the Little Bighorn Associates. Maria Luisa's grandfather, Captain Frederick William Benteen, was the Senior Captain of the 7th Cavalry Regiment and fought with Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.
Myron enjoyed the beach. He swam laps at the Briar Club, and worked out at the Pilates studio twice a week until he was 102.
Myron and Maria Luisa were married for 62 years. Maria Luisa died in 2002.
To his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Pop will always be remembered for his bowties, witty puns, and whistling. He taught us how to work hard and dress sharp. When asked about his secret to longevity, he would typically reply, "Well, I haven't died yet."
He was much too humble to embrace the compliment, but to all who met him, Myron Fuller Steves was an inspiration.
They are survived by their three children and their spouses, Myron F. Steves, Jr. (Buddy) and wife, Rowena Young, Teresa Steves Skinner and husband, Richard, and Frederick B. Steves and wife, Courtney. They are also survived by grandchildren, Frederick B. Steves, Jr. and wife, Andrea, Roy Pollard Steves, Donna Davis, Lori Pack and husband, Mike, Michael Rubin Steves, Joshua Lee Steves and great grandchildren, Frederick B. Steves III (Trey), Andrew T. Steves, Jackson F. Steves, and Taylor Sky Pack. He is also survived by his step grandchildren Christopher Lawrence, Chrysanthi Lawrence, Anastasia Lawrence, Richard Skinner Jr, and Janna Skinner Holland; and step great-grandchildren, Thorin Schriber, Selene Lawrence, Thalia Lawrence, Richard Skinner III (Richie), Margaret Skinner (Maggie), Patrick Fowler, and Corrie Fowler. Pop's youngest great-grandchild, Sky, is eight months old and got to take naps on his shoulder.
Visitation will be from 5-8 PM Thursday, September 3, 2015 at St. Basil's Chapel at University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006. Parking is available on St. Thomas surface lots or their parking garage at the corner of West Alabama and Graustark.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 AM on Friday, September 4, 2015 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway 77025, at Holcombe (Bellaire) Blvd.
A rite of Committal will be held at Forest Park Westheimer, 12800 Westheimer Rd. at Dairy Ashford. A reception will follow the burial.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in remembrance may be made to the University of Houston - Downtown Insurance and Risk Management Center, College of Business, One Main Street, Suite 488, Houston, TX 77002-1001, or University of St. Thomas, or a charity of your choice .