Robert F. Bland

He was a graduate of Tulane University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and Master of Science in Civil Engineering. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon social fraternity, and was elected to Tau Beta Pi, honorary engineering fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa, honorary leadership fraternity.

At the end of World War II, he served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy. During the Korean War he served as a naval officer (LTJG, CEC, USNR) in U. S. Naval Construction Battalion No. Two in Subic Bay in the Philippines, involved in the construction of one of the largest U.S. bases in the Pacific area.

Robert was a lifelong Presbyterian and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. He was a former member of the Houston Country Club, the New Orleans Country Club, and served on the Board of Texas Commerce Bank, Tanglewood. He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and in 1983, he was named an outstanding alumnus of the School of Engineering, Tulane University.

As a young engineer, he worked with Oman-Farnsworth-Wright, a construction joint venture, lived overseas, and was involved in the construction of U.S. air bases in the Azores and Spain. This was followed by an eleven-year residence in Puerto Rico, where he was involved in the construction of hotels, resorts, high rise condominiums, the ionospheric radio reflector in Arecibo, and residential projects. He ended his working career in Houston, as a real estate developer, and was one of the pioneers in high rise condominium development. He formed Pelican Builders, Inc., a residential development company, that has built multiple residential projects in Houston, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Archie B. Bland, Jr.; and his former wife and the mother of his children, Betty Elizardi.

He is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Bland Harlan; his son, Robert F. Bland, Jr. and his wife Louise; and by his daughters, Brenda Bland Willson, and Ellen Louise Bland. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Scott Davis Willson Jr. and his wife Kate, Lauren Willson, Kristen Willson, Allison Bland Flick and her husband Bryan, and Robert Riddell Bland. He also knew and loved his great-grandsons, Scott Davis Willson III, and Charles Riddell Flick.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions can be made in Robert's memory to the Science and Engineering Annual Fund at Tulane University.

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