Doyle Frederick McAdams, Jr.

DOYLE FREDERICK MCADAMS, JR. was born on October 2, 1925 in Madisonville, Texas, to Doyle F. McAdams and Lois Burney McAdams, and died on February 24, 2012 in Huntsville, Texas. He was a member of a pioneer Texas family. His father’s family settled in Walker County in the early 1830’s. His mother was a member of an early Texas family from Comfort and Center Point in the Hill Country. When he was four, he moved to Huntsville, where he lived the rest of his life. As a child, he worked with his father, and grandfather, James Washington Hiram Walker McAdams, and uncles in the McAdams family businesses. He enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his cousins and grandparents, Papa Wash and Miss Willie, in their home, built in 1929 at the ranch headquarters in northwest Walker County near the old community of McAdams, Texas. It is a home in which his sons have lived, and live, for significant periods of time. After graduating from Huntsville High in 1942, he attended Texas A&M. Upon turning 18, he joined the United States Army Air Corps, serving as a bomber gunner. Upon discharge in 1946, he returned to Huntsville to work in the family businesses of ranching, dry goods stores, and other endeavors in Southeast Texas. He met LaDell Westmoreland in 1948 and they were married on January 29, 1949 at the First (United) Methodist Church of Huntsville. This was the church they were members of for the rest of his life, and where he served on the church’s board and numerous church committees. Doyle McAdams made his career in ranching. McAdams Cattle Company ran steers in Walker, Madison, San Jacinto and Polk counties. They also wintered steers on the salt grass along the Texas Gulf Coast and summered them in the Flint Hills of Oklahoma and Kansas. The cattle were shipped by rail. In 1947, while preparing to ship from Hitchcock, he unfortunately witnessed the Texas City, Texas explosion disaster from afar. In 1956, while driving a herd of some 700 steers from the McAdams Ranch, the 12 Bar, 12 miles northwest of Huntsville to the railroad pens east of Huntsville, the cattle were scared by the airbrakes and horn of an eighteen wheeler and stampeded through downtown Huntsville. It became the last commercial cattle drive through Huntsville. In the 1960’s, Doyle transitioned to running commercial cows and calves, but also was an innovator in the commercial cattle feeding industry. He was one of the first stockholders in Union Feed Yards of Blythe, California. At one time it was the largest feed yard in the United States. He led a group of local cattlemen that built Huntsville Feedyard. It is today the home of the Huntsville Livestock Auction. He was very active in his community, serving terms on the Huntsville City Council during the 1960s; he participated in business and real estate development, and with his friend, R. B. “Buck” Thomason, developed the Forest Hills subdivision. He was a long time Director of the Huntsville National Bank. He was a Director of the Huntsville – Walker County Chamber of Commerce, and of the United Way, and served in many other civic and charitable ways. He was a member of numerous organizations, including the Huntsville A&M Club, serving as President, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and the Sons of the American Revolution, serving as President of the Captain John McAdams Chapter of the S.A.R. He was a leader in the cattle industry, as a Director for many years of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and by representing them on the national level as a member of the Animal Health Committee of the National Cattlemen’s Association. He served as a Director and President of the Board of the San Jacinto River Authority of the State of Texas. His 25-year tenure encompassed the conception and completion of Lake Conroe, which provides water for many, including the people of Greater Houston. He served at the appointment of four Governors of Texas: John Connally, Preston Smith, Dolph Briscoe and William P. Clements. After those 25 years of service, he continued this commitment to water issues by serving, until late in his life, as a member of his region’s committee of the State’s system of water planning. Doyle is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dell, and they were very devoted to each other. Dad is survived by his son, James Doyle “Jim” McAdams, Jim’s wife Dr. Molly Meade McAdams, and Papa’s grandsons, James William “Will” McAdams and John Kohl McAdams. Dad is survived by his son, Judge William Lee “Bill” McAdams, Bill’s wife Shan Walley McAdams, and Papa’s granddaughter McKinsey Kelton McAdams Copeland, and McKinsey’s husband Baron Kyle Copeland. He is also survived by his numerous McAdams and Burney cousins, whom he also loved dearly. Doyle had many other and varied interests and experiences in his life. He sang well. He played tennis well. He loved to follow the stock market. Doyle loved the American West, and travelled there many times, often with his friends Jack Kyle and Doyle Stuckey. He loved being “out in the country”, and spending time at his lake house on the ranch. He read extensively, and with a keen sense of curiosity. He treasured the past, but was always looking to the future. He enjoyed his family; and he and Dell had innumerable friends to whom they were loyal, from all over and from all walks of life. Doyle F. McAdams, Jr. worked hard, and he was devoted in preserving his family’s heritage. He was true to his faith, a man’s man, a cowman’s cowman, a steward of the land, and a loyal Texas Aggie. His legacy is strong. The McAdams family wishes to express its gratitude to Mr. McAdams’ caregivers: Carolyn Ashley, Anedra C. Mock, Lidia Ramos, Lizeth Nieto, Deisy Abrego and Jessie Johnson. Mr. McAdams will lie in state Sunday, February 26, 2012, 2:30- 6:30 p.m., at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Huntsville, Texas. A visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville on Monday, February 27, 2012, beginning at 1:00 p.m. His funeral service is to be conducted at the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville on Monday, February 27, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. The interment is to follow at the Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville. Honorary Pallbearers are Andy Adams, Dr. Tommy Cole, Col. M. B. Etheredge, Rev. Tom Holcomb, Jack Kyle, Brock Lively, A.C. Merchant, James Patton, Judge Danny Pierce, Hal Ridley, Morris Shaw, Doyle Stuckey, Alvin Stutts, Edwin Thomason, Jimmy Wood, and Mac Woodward. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that any memorial contributions in Mr. McAdams’ name be made to the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville Foundation, 1016 Sam Houston Ave., Huntsville Texas 77320. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com

Doyle Frederick McAdams, Jr.

October 2, 1925 - February 24, 2012