Roll Call Tribute

Horace Porter Goodrich
November 3, 1923 - December 4, 2015

Horace Porter Goodrich was born to Nick Levi Goodrich and Louise Margaret Finks on Nov. 3, 1923 in Marlin, Texas. He was the third youngest of 9 children, affectionately called “Hossie” by his family. As part of the Goodrich family, he was taught love of family, faith, loyalty and responsibility, and he carried those attributes throughout his life. Horace was on the debate team at Marlin High School winning many awards, the Forensic team, the band, and was a yell leader. He followed his older brother, Thomas, to Texas A & M where he joined the Fighting Texas Aggie Band as drummer. Like many, he left to join the Armed Forces during WWII, afterwards returning to earn a Mechanical Engineering Degree in 1949. He built lifetime friendships at A & M, especially with many of the class of ’44, including his roommate, Charley Garner, who he spoke with weekly throughout his lifetime. He never missed an Aggie football game and enjoyed the Corps [March-ins] while tailgating with friends and family. While at
A & M, Horace met the love of his life, Merle Estelle Vogelsang, on a blind date, and they married Feb. 5, 1949.

Horace, also known to friends and associates as “HP”, became a Petroleum Engineer living for many years in Midland, Texas where he and Merle enjoyed many close friends and were active in the Petroleum Club and Episcopal Church. They later moved to Lafayette, LA and Houston, TX with Pennzoil where he eventually retired from the oil business in the 90’s. He later began a 2nd career as a founder in Sterile Reprocessing Services (SRS) a business which led the way in reprocessing medical devices, helping medical facilities cut waste and save money. It was voted as one of Houston’s top 100 businesses in the early 90’s by the Houston Business Journal.

HP was known for his sense of humor and generous heart and was a favorite at parties and family reunions acting out his famous rendition of “Cleopatra” among other things! He maintained his love of life and optimistic outlook even during a long difficult fight with Parkinson’s Disease, still attending Aggie Club meetings and family events including trips to visit his son, Arthur, Class of 1987, in California for annual July celebrations.

HP was preceded in death by his daughter Charissa Estelle Goodrich, his parents and all his siblings with the exception of Weezie Burton who followed him in 2021. He is still missed by his wife of 67 years, Merle Goodrich of The Woodlands, son Arthur Dace Goodrich (Aggie class of ’87) of Calistoga CA, daughter Lisa Goodrich of Houston, and daughter Sandra Goodrich Kiker and husband Garry Kiker of Kerrville. He is also fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Tiffin Funaro of Austin, Jonathan Kiker, (Aggie class of 2005), and wife Rachael, (Aggie class of 2005), with their children Margaret, Isaac, and Eli of Raleigh, NC, and Kristin Kiker Lindenmuth and husband William Lindenmuth of Seattle, WA.