Frank Briscoe

Frank Briscoe, age 84, passed away, January 4, 2011, in Richmond, TX. He was born, July 31, 1926, at his family home near the community of Foster, in Fort Bend County, Texas. His parents were Amelia Moody Briscoe, a school teacher, and Andrew Clyde Briscoe, a cattleman. With his siblings, he enjoyed an eventful youth immersed in the activities of the family farm, and the "Homeplace" remained dear to him throughout his life.

Mr. Briscoe graduated from Richmond High School in 1942 at the age of 15. He entered Texas A & M University the same year and played clarinet in the Texas Aggie Marching Band. He attended the University of California at Berkeley while in the U.S. Marine Corps, later becoming a Lance Corporal and serving in the Pacific Theater. Following WWII he received his BA in history and LLB in law from the University of Texas at Austin

Upon graduation from law school in 1950, Mr. Briscoe was employed as an Assistant District Attorney of Harris County. He practiced as a trial lawyer with Butler, Binion, Rice and Cook, then returned to prosecution and was elected District Attorney of Harris County at the age of 33. He gained a reputation as an energetic and effective prosecutor and was re-elected in 1964. Mr. Briscoe resigned from the District Attorney's office to make an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Congress in 1966. Subsequently, he engaged in the private practice of law as a trial attorney.

In 1991, Mr. Briscoe returned to Fort Bend County and joined the District Attorney's office there to once again prosecute criminal cases. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General, traveling throughout Texas to prosecute several cases involving indicted public officials. In the following years he returned to private practice and opened a law office in downtown Richmond, Texas. In addition to his lifelong legal practice, Mr. Briscoe was devoted to his family and his community. Among his greatest joys were time spent with his wife Luann and family at their ranch in the Chinati mountains of west Texas, and time with neighbors in the Ft. Bend County community of Greatwood where he lived for the past 17 years.

Mr. Briscoe is preceded in death by his twin brother, Bill, his first wife, Shirley Furby Briscoe, an older brother, Andrew Clyde Briscoe, Jr., and his sister Amelia Briscoe Mahler. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Luann Rice Briscoe; four sons: Frank Briscoe, Jr. (Chip); William Montgomery Briscoe and wife, Marla Jenkins Briscoe; Randolph Brian Briscoe and wife, Marian Wallace Briscoe; and Robert Moody Briscoe and partner Devin Michael Borden; and by his step-children, Christie Richardson Mintz and husband, Alan; Calder Rice Richardson and wife, Deanna; and Kaylee Richardson Pittman and husband, David; brother, Mason Briscoe, II; and by 12 grandchildren, Bradford Dillon Briscoe, Audrey Amelia Briscoe, Charles Crofton Briscoe, William Wallace Briscoe, Elizabeth Estes Briscoe, Abbey Nicole Richardson, Evan Calder Richardson, Austin Chandler Richardson, Blake Alexandra Pittman, Hunter Lauren Pittman, Chase Redfield Pittman and Ryan Keeton Pittman.

Pallbearers for Mr. Briscoe's service will be his grandchildren; Charles Briscoe, Bill Briscoe, and Dillon Briscoe; and nephews, Alan Lee Briscoe, Andrew C. Briscoe III, Charles F. Mahler, Bill Mahler, Balke Mahler, Jr., and Mason Briscoe III.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, January 7, 2011, at the Settegast-Kopf Co. at Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, (Williams Trace Blvd. Exit), Sugar Land, TX. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 8, 2011, at Briscoe Manor, 5801 FM 723, Richmond, TX 77469, followed by interment at the Briscoe family cemetery at 5831 FM 723, Richmond, TX 77469. Friends and loved ones are invited to attend a reception afterwards at the Briscoe Homeplace, adjacent to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Foster Museum, or Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross University.