Blog 52

Ten Little Indians (And then there were none):
That was the title of what many consider Agatha Christie’s greatest book. It is probably not politically correct today, but it comes to mind as we acknowledge a couple more of our classmates passing away. Most of our classmates still standing have passed the eightieth landmark, but the deaths are coming more frequently.

Today and next time I will post obituaries for Byron LeFlore and Guy Bragg.

Byron Louis Leflore

February 6, 1936 – March 8, 2016Byron Louis LeFlore, a lifelong resident of San Antonio, died surrounded by his loving family on March 8, 2016 in San Antonio. Born February 6, 1936, Byron attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School, Central Catholic and Jefferson High Schools and graduated from the University of Texas with a BBA in Finance (’59). After college, he worked with his father and brother in the family’s downtown bank, Mission City Bank. When the family sold the bank, he continued his banking career as a Senior Vice President at the National Bank of Commerce before becoming President and CEO of Bexar County National Bank for almost 10 years through its merger Republic Bank. In 1982, he returned to his roots in independent, community banking as President and CEO of Jefferson State Bank (now Jefferson Bank), guiding it through almost two decades of outstanding stability and growth. Upon his retirement in September 2001, he was named Chairman Emeritus and continued to serve on the board as a director and in-house committee member for another 10 years. Byron was a former Chairman of the Board of Texas Independent Bank, headquartered in Dallas, and of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, and was a respected and well-known spokesman for independent banking at both the state and national levels. He also served on the Commissioner’s Council for the Texas Department of Banking. In addition to banking, Byron was active in his community and his church throughout his adult life and served as President or Board Chairman of many organizations including the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, UTSA College of Business Advisory Council, Centro 21, Madonna Neighborhood Center, Central Index (forerunner to “Elf Louise”), and the San Antonio chapters of the Traveler’s Aid Society, the American Heart Association , the Council of Christians and Jews, and the Knights of St. Gregory the Great. He assisted many church and charitable groups in fundraising and financial planning and was a longtime Trustee of the University of the Incarnate Word and friend to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. He also served on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Byron was a former President of the San Antonio German Club, Conopus Club, Christmas Cotillion Club, Beta Theta Pi Alumni Club, Texas Beta Student Aid Fund, St. Anthony Club and was also a member of the Texas Cavaliers, the Order of the Alamo, the Order of Alhambra, and St. Charles Bay Hunting Club. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church. Byron had a wise sense of humor and kind heart that he shared with the world. His many interests included fishing, hunting, cooking, gardening, sports, music, and traveling. He loved taking his family up to UT football games in the fall and down to Rockport for fishing trips every summer. Observing the cattle graze and deer run at his ranch in Comfort made him happy. In 1959, Byron escorted Kathryn Ann Barragan for her debut with the San Antonio German Club. They married in 1962. For the next 53 years, they laughed and supported one another as true soulmates, raising four children together. As a husband and father and grandfather, Byron provided abundantly for his family, especially through his profound love for all of them as individuals, and his lifelong example of Christian faith. Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Byron LeFlore and Louis LeFlore, by his mother who raised him from the age of six, Katherine Zoeller LeFlore, by his sister, Barbara LeFlore Boxwell Hockstadt and by Barbara’s son Byron Boxwell. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Barragan LeFlore and by his four children and their spouses: Byron Jr. and Kathleen LeFlore, Elizabeth and Will Langmore, James (Jimmy) and Joy LeFlore, and Campbell and Elizabeth LeFlore, and by his six grandchildren (Byron III and Kaitlyn LeFlore, Milo Langmore, Haly and Audrey LeFlore, and Adele LeFlore). He is also survived by his brother John LeFlore and wife Betty and their daughters Jeanne Tatum (and husband Kelvin) and Katherine Smelko (and husband John), and by his sister Barbara’s sons Steven and Bevin Boxwell.Byron will lie in state on Saturday, March 12th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Porter Loring on McCullough. MASS OF THE RESURRECTIONMONDAYMARCH 14, 201611:00 AMST. PETER PRINCE OF THE APOSTLESCATHOLIC CHURCH111 BARILLA PLACE. Interment in Sunset Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Milton E. Allison Jr., Arthur H. Bayern, Stanton P. Bell, Charles C. Butt, Bartlett Cocke Jr., Huard H. Eldridge, William Fitch, Frank G. Huntress III, Steve C. Lewis, Albert M. McNeel Jr., Paul E. McSween III, Richard B. Moore, Scott Petty Jr., Mark E. Watson Jr., and James P. Zachry. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Byron’s name to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word-San Antonio, 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209; or to the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation, Post Office Box 6927, San Antonio, TX 78209. You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com

I Don’t Need Money:
Thanks to all who offered to send money to help defray the costs of this blog, but I am afloat. I mentioned that I am spending $2.17 per month, but for a limited time. My total investment is $13, which is within my monthly income level. I had thought some of my all too dry humor would shine through, but I sent it on a totally overcast day.