Many local community leaders who died in 2009 spent decades serving the public; others were here only a few years, but each made a lasting impact on Bryan-College Station and its residents.
Travis Bryan: After two years of being in and out of hospitals, Bryan died Sept. 24 at age 87 of congestive heart failure. He served as president of First National Bank until 2008, and previously served the community in the roles of Bryan school board president, deacon at First Baptist Church and volunteer with the United Way. He may be best known as patriarch of the family whose namesake is Bryan, Texas. Both the Bryan Municipal Golf Course and Bryan High School have been renamed in his memory.
Mel Pruitt: Co-founder of the Brazos Valley African American Museum and longtime community activist, Pruitt died Sept. 21 at age 79. She never held elected office but has been recognized by leaders in Bryan and College Station for her organization and leadership abilities. For nearly three decades, until 1995, she served as president of the Bethune Woman's Club and pushed for there to be a prenatal health clinic and a North Bryan Community Center in the city. She spent nearly 50 years, along with her husband, Willie, collecting artifacts for the museum.
Carey Cauley: County commissioner, mortician, president of the Brazos County chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, reverend and teacher -- all were titles held by Cauley over the years. He died May 22 at age 67 -- less than a month after resigning his position as county commissioner, which he held for 14 years. His wife, Irma Cauley, was appointed to take his place by County Judge Randy Sims.
Norman Borlaug: The Nobel Peace Prize recipient and distinguished Texas A&M professor was known globally for his work producing crops to fight hunger. He died Sept. 12 at age 95. He joined A&M's faculty in 1984.
Annette Stephney: The former Bryan councilwoman spent a lifetime in Bryan-College Station and died Oct. 28 at age 67 after developing a blood clot from knee surgery, family members said. In addition to being a board member for the St. Joseph Health System (which is not where she had her surgery) and Habitat for Humanity, Stephney served a total of seven years on the council and was active in her church.
R.J. Holmgreen: Elected to serve four terms as Brazos County judge, Holmgreen's lasting legacy will be the Juvenile Justice Center that bears his name. Holmgreen, who lived in the community since 1931, died Sept. 13 at age 83. About 20 years before becoming judge, Holmgreen operated, alongside his brother, Brazos Tire Services.
J.L. Huffines: The leader of Huffines Auto Dealerships, Huffines served as a member of the Board of Regents at Texas A&M until one month before his death, when he resigned the post, citing health reasons. A 1944 graduate of the university, Huffines was on the governing board for 17 months. He once served as president of the 12th Man Foundation, and received numerous awards from his alma mater, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award and was named to the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor. Huffines died in his Dallas home Jan. 7 at age 85.
Bill Meeks: An award-winning photographer and former Eagle employee, Meeks died April 16 at age 62. From 1977 until 1995, he served as chief photographer for The Eagle. He then began focusing on his private photography business, which he ran until his death. In 1983, the man who never attended college for photography had a photo project nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Raymond Callaway Jones: When he graduated from A&M in 1953, Jones decided to stay in Aggieland and opened Callaway-Jones Funeral Home with other members of his family. Jones was named Funeral Director of the Year by the South East Texas Funeral Directors Association in 2007 and was regarded by many in his field as someone with high ethical standards and sound business advice. He died Aug. 17 at age 77.
Eddie Rodriguez: The Bryan businessman and equal rights advocate was named National Man of the Year in 1986 by the League of United Latin American Citizens. Owner of Eddie's Body Shop, Rodriguez died unexpectedly Aug. 13 at age 67.
Pete Rodriguez: He taught music to students at Bryan High School for 13 years while serving as band director until 1985. After several years of declining health, Rodriguez died April 20 at age 80. A talented musician, he played the clarinet and saxophone and was a member of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. He founded the Pete Rodriguez Orchestra, a jazz and big band group that played at local events.
Tom Parsons: The Corps of Cadets' Parsons Mounted Cavalry was named after this man, who served as Corps commandant from 1971 until 1977. For six years after that stint, he was director of the University Police Department. The 1949 A&M graduate died March 23 at age 80.
Dave Stevenson: An eight-year battle with myeloma cancer ended for 43-year-old Stevenson on March 31. Since opening in 2006, he served as president of Brenham National Bank's College Station branch. He served on the board of directors for both the Boys and Girls Club of Brazos Valley and the Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley. The Texas A&M graduate also volunteered his time with Big Brothers Big Sisters, hosted exchange students through Bryan schools, and was a member of both the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club.
Woods Allen Caperton: For 12 years, he sat on the bench as a Burleson County judge. In Caldwell, he served as a member of the school board, founded the local Cub Scouts group and served as president of the Lions Club. Caperton died Nov. 15 at age 89.
Tom Douglass: In 1988, he and his family founded Douglass Nissan on Earl Rudder Freeway. Douglass, who lived in College Station for the past 12 years, died April 20 at age 89. He was a World War II veteran and played football at Texas Tech University from 1939 to 1941 before leaving to join the war effort.
Following is just a snapshot of other notable deaths in the community:
* Mike Cornelius: He served as president of the Concerned Black Men. Cornelius died Dec. 18 at age 58.
* Jim Beard: For a time, he was the oldest living former University of Texas football and baseball player. In 1942 he purchased what would become Beard Transfer and Storage. He died in his Bryan home Oct. 10 at age 101.
* Robert Reid: He helped to establish A&M's Department of Oceanography and Meteorology. Served as head of the Department of Oceanography until his retirement in 1987. Reid died Jan. 23 at age 87.
* Jeff Conant: He served as head of A&M's department of marketing since 2006. Conant died June 30 at age 54.
* Charles Holland: Head of A&M's department of chemical engineering from 1964 until retiring in 1987. Holland died March 29 at age 87.
* Jason Hightower: Hosted the Jason and Roy Morning Show on KORA-FM in the early 1990s. Hightower died March 20 at age 38.
* Douglas Brooks: Shakespearean scholar and professor in A&M's Department of English since 1997. Brooks died Jan. 27 at age 52.
* Shirley White: After battling a lengthy illness, the wife of College Station Mayor Ben White died April 21 at age 71. She was active in the Brazos Valley Parkinson's Association and member of Peace Lutheran Church.
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