Bernard Simon Hruzek

Bernard S. "Benny" HRUZEK, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away in Houston, Texas on Saturday, the 16th of July 2011, at the age of 82. He was born on the 30th of May 1929, in Wallis, Texas to Raymond J. and Annie Hruzek

Benny graduated from the University of Texas in 1950 with a degree in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant. He worked for Peat, Marwick & Mitchell in Houston, Texas. Benny was called to active duty service for the U.S. Navy and served as a Lieutenant from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War. In 1954, while serving as comptroller at the Norfolk Navy Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, he met the love of his life, Joyce May Hobday. They married on the 19th of November 1955. After his naval service was completed, Benny returned to Peat, Marwick & Mitchell for several years; then he worked for Mitchell Energy in Houston, Texas, where he worked as a Financial Vice President until he started Conklin Hruzek & Co. in 1969. He was a member of the AICPA, the Texas Society and Houston Chapter of the CPA’s. A longtime resident of Hunters Creek Village in Houston, Benny served as Police Commissioner from 1985 to the present for the Memorial Village Police Department, representing Hunters Creek Village. He is a former President of the Houston Club, where he was a member for many years. Benny was a member of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association and a member of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Gulf Coast Association. He was currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Gulf Coast Association, as well as having served in the past as both President and Treasurer. Benny was one of the NASA Longhorn Project founding members, and he was currently serving on the Board of Directors. He was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. His passion was spending time at the "Silent H" Ranch in Wallis, Texas where he raised his beloved Texas Longhorn cattle. Benny was a member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Houston for many years.

Benny is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, James Hruzek and wife, Laura; son, David Hruzek and wife, Susan; daughter, Brenda Horn and husband, Stacy; son, Mark Hruzek; grandchildren, Lauren, Caitlin, Roger, Christina and Emily Hruzek; brothers, August Hruzek and Raymond Hruzek. Special thanks to Dr. K. Scott Lloyd, Geraldine Butler and Billie Bell for their excellent medical care of Benny.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 19th of July, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A Liturgy of the Word and celebration of Benny's life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 20th of July, at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Road, in Houston, where the Rev. John Cahoon, Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests that contributions in Benny's name be directed to the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-4466 (for additional information, please contact Dr. Glen A. Laine, Director, Michael E. Debakey Institute, [email protected], 979-845-7261).

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8.