Roll Call Tribute

Published in Corpus-Christi Caller-Times on Feb. 11, 2018

George M. Graham Jr.(1928 - 2018)
George M. Graham Jr.

George M. Graham, Jr., 89, died on August 28, 2017 in Corpus Christi, Texas due to complications from a lengthy illness. His final hospital stay coincided with the landfall of Hurricane Harvey in the Coastal Bend, which seemed a fitting tribute to a long and interesting life.

Born February 21, 1928 to Ola Winslow and George Madison Graham in Damon (Brazoria County), Texas, he was the youngest of five children. The family later settled in the company camp operated by Humble Oil & Refining Company north of Houston, eventually farming near Magnolia (Montgomery County) during the Great Depression and post-war years. George's early farm experiences won a 4-H blue ribbon for livestock at the county fair. He graduated from Conroe High School in 1946, followed by completion of a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas A & M University in 1951 and remained a lifelong loyal Aggie. At A & M he received several student design awards which he would likely credit to mentorship from his favorite professor, Ernest Langford. During summer breaks, he built houses in Corpus Christi with his brother-in-law, Jim Johnson, where he met his future wife, LaMoyne Katherine Ann Gerdes. They married April 23, 1949 in the Corpus Christi Cathedral.

Following college graduation, George began his thirty-year association with Richard Colley, Architect in Corpus Christi. He received his Texas architect license in 1955. He spent his professional career as Colley's supervising architect managing both domestic and international projects. Locally, he worked on the City's Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center (both demolished), King High School, Ada Wilson Rehabilitation Center, Lamar Park Shopping Center and the 4600 Building on Ocean Drive. When Colley and O'Neil Ford began jointly-designing worldwide projects for Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) and other large companies, the firm expanded. George managed branch offices in Dallas and Austin from 1965 to 1971, overseeing construction projects for TI, Handy Andy Grocery Stores, St. Mark's School, World of Animals, Waples-Platter and Great Western Foods. Upon return to Corpus in 1971, he managed the architectural production studio for TI projects in Texas (Dallas, Houston, Temple, Midland, Austin, Sherman, Lewisville, Plano, Lubbock), out-of-state (Attleboro, MA, Detroit, MI, Johnson City, TN), and overseas (the Philippines, Taiwan, France, Italy and Japan).

After Colley's death in 1983, George partnered with Eugene H. Glass, P.E. to form The Colley Associates, Architects and Engineers, designing advanced technology projects for TI worldwide. Design work included travel to international sites in France, Portugal, Taiwan, Singapore, the Netherlands, Germany, England and Japan. George's all-consuming commitment to the architectural profession may best be seen in the design of TI DMOS4 complex (chip manufacturing complex) in Dallas and similar facilities in Japan, as well as projects in West Germany, Portugal, Bedford and Plymouth England. One of his favorite projects was the design of a company cafeteria in Nice, France with outdoor dining and views to the Mediterranean. Design work covered numerous master plans of new site developments in Mexico, Japan, Singapore and Texas, along with renovation plans for many existing facilities. The Colley Associates closed in 1995 upon the retirement of the partners. George was a master of architectural detailing, gifted with a three-dimensional mind allowing him to hand-sketch ideas and details. This skill guided his mastery in assembling architectural building systems, integrating complex utility systems to support advanced technologies, and transforming program needs into seemingly-simple building solutions. His work exemplified the architectural tenet of his time, as form always followed function.

After retirement, George enjoyed managing his ranch in Live Oak County and farm in Wharton County, from his home base on Denver Avenue in Corpus Christi. He took great pride in his home's modernist 1959 ranch house design, built for a client and later purchased in 1985. Always hands-on with home projects, he took great care of his tools, particularly wood-working tools, reflecting his fascination with wood as the ideal building material. In life, George's gruff East Texas demeanor was complimented by plain-spoken opinions, honest in conviction and sound in judgment. His penetrating blue eyes left an indelible imprint on everyone who interacted with him.

George is survived by two of his sisters, Faye Ola Johnson of Georgetown, Texas and Erma Lee Wise of Willis, Texas; his four children and their families: Georgia Ann Pierce and husband Charles Pierce of Coppell, Texas; Madison Reid Graham and wife Bess Althaus Graham and their children, George Ernest, Eason Reid, and Henry Lane Graham; Cindy Dee Graham and partner Bobby McReynolds; and Tracy Alton Graham and Janet Galaway Graham and Tracy's children, Alton Winslow and Elliott Baldwin Graham and Janet's daughter, Kayla Galaway Nichols and husband Taylor Nichols, along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother Alton Reid Graham, his sister Verna Mae Maduzia, and his wife of 47 years, LaMoyne K. Graham whose untimely death occurred in 1996.

A gathering of friends, family and associates will be held at noon on Saturday, February 17 at the Lanai Room in the Breakers Condominiums on Corpus Christi's North Beach, 4242 Gulfbreeze Blvd. Lunch will be served.

Donations may be made to the Alexander Architectural Archives (for The Colley Associates Collection)

University of Texas at Austin Libraries - Architecture/Planning Library, PO Box P, Austin, TX 78713.