Fred Allen Penny

Fred Allen Penny was born in Houston, Texas, on September 26, 1937, to Jimmie Autry Penny and Ollie Nan Huddleston. He had one brother, Jimmy Autry Penny Jr., and two half-brothers, Johnnie Penny and Bill Holland. A third-generation Houstonian, Fred spent his early childhood on the north side living with his aunt and uncle Albert Huddleston. As an eleven-year-old, Fred was fortunate to have played on the 1950 Spring Northwest 45 Little League baseball team that went on to win the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The win and the journey from Houston to Williamsport by train was a highlight of his youth and he talked fondly about stopping in St. Louis where he was greeted by the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Eddie Dyer, and players, Stan Musial and Enos Slaughter.

After returning home to Houston, Fred moved to the Heights area with his Mother Nan. He attended Hamilton Jr. High and then Reagan Sr. High School. In 1955, he was the city’s baseball batting champion, hitting an average of .467. During his senior year at Reagan, Fred met the love of his life, Margaret Lillian Hull. After graduating, Rice University offered him a baseball scholarship where he played on the 1956 and 1957 teams. Gaining too much weight on the baseball training table as college freshman, Fred asked the Rice football coach, Jess Neely, if he could play on the football team. He was given that opportunity and played in the 1956 season. The summer after his sophomore year, Rice University got him a job at Cameron Iron Works to help fill positions after a Union strike. Deciding not to return to Rice and to stay on at Cameron, Fred attended night school at the University of Houston Downtown to continue his studies.

Fred and Margaret were married August 23, 1958, and were greeted the following year with a beautiful, blue-eyed blonde baby named Karen Renee. The next couple of years were filled with many wonderful memories until the unexpected death of Karen who tragically passed away from drowning on September 2, 1961, just before her second birthday. Still grieving, but somehow staying strong, they welcomed their second daughter, Cynthia Lynn, in 1962, followed by another daughter, Patricia Ann, in1963. At last, at boy was born in1967, named Michael Wayne.

Fred continued to work at Cameron, starting out in the repair shop, moving up to a material clerk position which he held for the next 5 years. While attending night school, he moved into the accounting department where he worked for the next 10 years, eventually becoming the chief accountant. After 9-1/2 years of night school, Fred finally received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1968 from the University of Houston. In 1972, he was promoted to the Oil Tool Marketing Department Sales Administration manager with worldwide responsibilities. Fred retired from Cameron Iron Works in August 1996 after being on Cameron’s payroll for 40 years and 4 months.

Fred and Margaret loved to travel and visited more than 34 different countries on 6 continents during their time together. In addition to their four children, they were blessed with sons-in-laws (Albert and John “Bo”), daughter-in-law (Kristin), grandchildren (John, David, Matt, Taylor, Cori and Julia) and great-grandchildren (Jack, Paige, Brooklyn and Jaxon).

Since meeting Margaret in 1955, Fred had been an active member of the Disciples of Christ Christian Church. His favorite prayer and something he lived by was the Serenity Prayer - asking God for a strong faith, understanding and happiness in daily life. Fred and Margaret were married for 67 years.