Charles "Sonny" L. Sowell

Charles Lee “Sonny” Sowell, III, beloved husband, father, grandfather and treasured friend, passed away on the 8th of October 2011, at the age of 81. Sonny was born on the 29th of October 1929, in San Antonio, to Charles Lee “Doc” Sowell, Jr. and Aileen Rees Sowell. He spent all of his early summers at Camp Stewart where Doc served as Camp Director. Later, Sonny attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he lettered in football, starred in the senior play twice, and met his future wife, Joann Kurth. Sonny attended The University of Texas on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in law. While at The University, Sonny developed a passion for politics and served as student body Vice President. He was a member of the Texas Cowboys, Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and founded the Forty Acre Ramblers, a band in which he sang and played guitar and upright bass. Prior to graduation, Sonny and Joann married in 1953.

Immediately following his graduation in 1955, Sonny entered the U.S. Army. He and Joann were stationed at Fort Ord in California where Sonny coached the Fort Ord Warriors football team which won the National Services Championship. Following his service, Sonny and Joann moved to Houston where he began his legal career. Sonny’s early years in Houston witnessed the growth of his family and his legal skills and opportunities. In addition to practicing law, Sonny was an active lobbyist. In the mid 1970’s, Sonny opened his own law firm where for many years he practiced real estate and corporate law. Sonny was associated with Cogen Technologies and The McNair Group in various capacities from 1966 until his retirement in 2011. He was also associated with the Houston Texans football team.

Sonny’s passions and interests were numerous and varied. He gave much of his time to local and state organizations including, but not limited to, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Longhorn Hall of Honor Council, the Houston Athletic Committee, the Longhorn Chancellor’s Council, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center and Sowell was an original appointee to the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation in 1999 and served as Vice Chairman until his retirement in August 2011.

Sonny is well remembered by those who participated in his many epic “family” hunts in South Texas, annual pigeon shoots and big game hunting worldwide. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. Sonny was particularly fond of his many wonderful and devoted dogs. Among them, his Brittany, Freckles, was his constant companion and a great source of happiness in his later years. Beyond his playing days on the gridiron Sonny remained a passionate supporter of football in Texas at all levels. He remained devoted to the Texas Longhorns and rarely missed a home game. Sonny was an original founder of the Houston Touchdown Club and a past president of the Houston Texas Exes. He served as emcee and auctioneer for numerous Longhorn events and proudly wore his T-ring every day. Sonny’s greatest love of all was his family. He is fondly remembered for his kindness, his passion for life, his many accomplishments, and his spirit and courage which knew no boundaries. Sonny was a wonderful teacher and legendary storyteller. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Sonny is preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Helen Orr Sowell; his brother, Jack “Buzzy” Sowell; and his granddaughter, Cristiana Sowell. He is survived by his wife, Joann, his three children and their spouses, Cindy and David Weisinger, Cristi and Wink Harvey, and Andy and Sherra Cassin Sowell. He leaves behind five grandchildren: Elizabeth, William and Harrison Harvey, and Jackson and Rachel Sowell. Sonny is also survived by his long time companion, Anne Tomlinson Hill and her family. To his many friends, Sonny’s passing has been met with an outpouring of sympathy for which the family is sincerely grateful.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Sonny during a reception from five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 13th of October, in the Library and Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 14th of October, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Senior Associate Rector for Pastoral Care, is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family requests that contributions be directed to Cancer Answers, which benefits the Sowell-Huggins Endowed Scholarship Fund for graduate cancer research. (contributions can be made payable to the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, c/o Linda Carter, P.O. Box 20334, Houston, Texas 77225-0334); the Alzheimer’s Association, 2242 West Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030; or the charity of one’s choice.