R. H. Bond Jr.

CONROE---Rufus Hardy Bond Jr., best known as R.H., passed on from this life in his home surrounded by the love of his wife and children on Tuesday evening, March 21, 2023 at the age of 86. Service: A reception honoring the life of RH Bond will be held from 4pm to 6pm, Saturday April 1, 2023 in the Pine Room at Metcalf Funeral Home in Conroe, TX. The family will be hosting A Celebration of Life at Conroe Country Club later in the spring. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Bond Family Scholarship, which is designated for students attending Sam Houston State University who are majoring in Math or Physics. Contributions can be mailed to Bond Family Scholarship, Att: Melissa Kral, Caney Creek High School 13470 FM 1485, Conroe, TX, 77306.

RH was born in Teague, TX on February 17, 1937 to Gaynell Coburn and Rufus Bond Sr. After being set aside and left for dead after a difficult delivery, RH proved from the beginning that he had gumption and tenacity. It would prove to be the first, but not the last time that RH cheated death. He was a 1955 graduate of Teague High School. He was offered a scholarship to play basketball at Lon Morris Jr. College before transferring to Sam Houston State Teachers College during his sophomore year. RH earned a Bachelor of Science with a major in Physics and minor in Math from what is now known as Sam Houston State University in 1960. RH was elected as the Student Council representative during his junior year and served as the voice for his peers and university at the Texas Intercollegiate Students Association Convention held at Baylor University that year. RH was an active member and served as an officer of the Dons/Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity while in attendance at Sam Houston State. He continued to support the fraternity throughout his entire life and he enjoyed attending reunions, football games, and staying in contact with his fraternity brothers. After college, RH was drafted to the United States Air Force in August of 1960 where he was trained to wire the control panels of the large IBM machines used by the government. He was later assigned to an Air Recovery squadron near Corpus Christi where his squadron oversaw returning damaged bombers back to the air. RH's chief role was to disarm the bombs on the planes if they were unable to be returned to the skies. He was later assigned to the air police as an MP prior to his honorable discharge from the military. His patriotism and pride for his country and fellow man ran deep and he instilled that same patriotism in his children and grandchildren. Time and again, RH proved to be an entrepreneur from an early age. From raising broilers, rabbits and hogs for meat markets and shows, to selling fur pelts to a furrier company in St. Louis, and harvesting and stacking watermelons under the grueling Texas sun, he knew the meaning of hard work. RH began his career after the Air Force in 1961 as a high school science teacher in Corpus Christi. He later attempted his hand at Watermelon farming in Falfurrias. Due to droughts in 1962 and 1963 and after selling his equipment and the few melons produced to repay the bank, RH found himself broke and at a crossroads. RH's father invited him to return to Conroe and try his hand at selling brick with the company Rufus Bond Sr. started in 1957. After many years of hard work, long hours, and trial and error, RH became the president of Bond Brick Company in 1963. This career switch would prove to be a fruitful one; RH spent 46 years in the brick business. The company had four offices in Houston, two in College Station and two in Conroe. Bond Brick represented 12 brick manufacturers and sold products in 16 counties. In 1997, Bond Brick distributed more than one million bricks to Saudia Arabia. These bricks were used to build the police academy in Riyadh, a military installation, and homes for 10 Saudi princes. In 1998, RH sold his business to the world's largest brick manufacturer-Boral Brick-to be able to spend more time with his family. In addition to business, RH was a lifetime member at both the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo where all his children were active participants in the show rings over the years. He was one of the founders of the Willis Ag Booster Club and at any given time could be found encouraging and assisting the knowledge and growth of future agricultural minds. While living in Willis, he served on the school board and was passionate about the education of our youth. RH served on the Sam Houston State University Alumni board of directors for several years. He and his wife Kelley were members of the Presidents Club and the Joint Century Club at Sam Houston State, but what RH was most proud of was being awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award given in appreciation for his many years of service to the University and its Alumni. The ultimate gentleman and honorable man, he was happiest when surrounded by close friends and family either fishing together or engaged in a competitive gin rummy tournament with his children. He will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survivors: In addition to his wife of 35 years, Kelley, RH is survived by his children, Dorothy Claire Bond Hammack and her husband Allen Lewis Hammack Jr., of Bryan; John Coburn Bond and his wife Carey Nan of Kerrville; Heather Raye Bond of Conroe; Michael Foster Bond and his wife Misty Marie McCarty of League City; Jesse Vasquez of Conroe; grandchildren, August Montana Hammack and his wife Kylie Christian Bennett, Carolyn Nicole Bond, Coryn Claire Bond, Kinsley Mae Bond, Grayson Kai Lagrone Bond, Brady Foster Bond; and one great-grandchild Ryder McCrae Hammack; cousins Linda Wiggins Griffin of Liberty City and Jeri Ann Wiggins Mayes of Donie. The family would like to thank RH's brother-in-law Frank VanWagner for always being there to lend a helping hand and Devotion Hospice for the excellent care and support they have provided.