L. Bland McReynolds

Lloyd “Bland” McReynolds passed away peacefully in his sleep in New Braunfels, Texas on September 27, 2012 at the age of 85. Bland was a lifelong resident of Houston, but also maintained homes in Lake McQueeney and New Braunfels after retirement.

Bland was born in Houston, Texas on August 18, 1927, to Lloyd Lowndes and Hazel Lewis McReynolds. He was stricken with polio at the age of 5, which left him paralyzed in one leg and unable to walk or attend school for a time as a child. Like many polio survivors, Bland was a high achiever who learned to overcome obstacles in life. By the time Bland was a teenager, he was out of his wheelchair and even played on a basketball team. Ineligible for military service, as a teenager Bland helped lead a local Sea Scout troupe, where he was active in civil defense exercises. Bland attended the Kinkaid School, graduating with the class of ’46, and Southern Methodist University, graduating with the class of ’50. While at Southern Methodist University, Bland was an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and he ran for cheerleader, losing a close race to future movie producer Aaron Spelling.

Upon graduation, Bland returned to Houston to help his father with the family business, Universal Printing. He sold that business a few years later and started a career investing in real estate and financial institutions. Bland started his real estate career in the apartment business, during which time he helped organize the Houston Apartment Association and served as the first president of the Texas Apartment Association. Bland co-founded Pan American Land Company with his longtime partner Adolph Susholtz. Bland also was the founder and owner of Bland McReynolds Interests, River Oaks Commercial Corporation, and the general partner of West Belt Crossing.

Bland was a Director and Chairman of the Board of Union Bank of Houston, and a Director at Main Bank of Houston, Houston First Savings Association, Allied Bank of Texas, Allied Bancshares, First Interstate Bancorp of Texas, and the National Asset Bank. Bland dedicated much of his time to civic affairs during Houston’s boom town era. He was appointed Chairman of the Houston City Planning Commission by his friend Mayor Louie Welch, served as Director of Civil Defense under Mayors Fred Hofheinz, Jim McConn and Kathy Whitmire, and served as president of the Zoological Society of Houston. Bland stayed politically active many years in local causes that supported property rights and taxpayer interests. He also had the honor to serve on the Houston host committee to re-elect President Gerald Ford.

One of Bland’s greatest pleasures in life was flying. He achieved certification to fly twin engine pressurized aircraft and especially enjoyed taking family and friends on trips in his prized PA 31P Navaho, known in the family by its tail number 6618 Lima. He was a supporter of the NASA Space Program and was invited to the home of astronaut Gene Cernan for a reception upon Cernan’s return from the Apollo 17 lunar mission. Bland and LaNelle later hosted a grand gala reception honoring Astronauts Gene Cernan and Ron Evans at their home in west Houston.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed skeet shooting and bird hunting, especially family hunting trips, although he was spotted on more than one occasion, pulled over on the side of the interstate, just sitting on the hood of his car and admiring a large flyover of migrating geese. Another passion of Bland’s was spending time by the water. As a teenager, Bland navigated his Sunfish sailboat — the first one in Texas — near his family’s home on Galveston Bay and he enjoyed being a regular crew member on sailing runs from Palm Beach to the Bahamas.

In later years, he enjoyed boating and jet skiing with family and friends on Lake McQueeney. Bland was a member of The River Oaks Country Club, The Coronado Club, The Key Club, Lake Breeze Ski Lodge, and The Greater Houston Gun Club. Bland served as a director and president of the River Oaks Property Owners Association, and was a Cofounder and Director of the National Foundation for Illeitis and Colitis, where he helped to facilitate peer collaboration on medical research. Bland also was as a member of the Navy League of the United States and was a proud “Colonel” in the Confederate (Commemorative) Air Force.

Bland married LaNelle Ueckert in 1959. They remained married for 37 years and had three children, Melanie, John and Joseph, and ten grandchildren. At the age of 70, Bland married Judy Baumann and they were married for 15 years. Bland received excellent end of life care from the loving staff at Kirkwood Manor in New Braunfels, his Hope Hospice nurse Beverly and especially from his loyal caregivers, Nathan, Jennifer and Emilio.

If you were a friend of Bland or even a stranger, you would always be greeted with a smile and treated with respect regardless of your position in society. Whether you were a business partner or the guy that trimmed the trees in his yard, you likely were Bland’s lunch guest on one or more occasions. He loved visitors and regularly left his front door wide open in the hopes that one of his family or friends would drop in for a visit. Bland is survived by his wife Judy Baumann of New Braunfels; his children, Melanie Lehmberg and her husband Tim of Fredericksburg, John M. McReynolds and his wife Karen of Houston, Joseph Bland McReynolds of Houston; his grandchildren Katy George and her husband Stephen of New Braunfels, Grant Buchanan of Houston, Francie Krienitz and her husband Dean of Katy, Scott Buchanan of Hondo, Cameron McReynolds of Houston, Matthew Buchanan of Lubbock, Laura Anne McReynolds of Houston, Ellie McReynolds of Houston, J.D. McReynolds of Houston, Sarah McReynolds of Houston; and his sister Dorothy Browne of Houston. He is predeceased by his parents, Hazel and Lloyd McReynolds of Houston, his cousin and “brother,” John W. McReynolds, MD, and his brother in law, the Reverend Dr. Robert T. Browne.

A memorial service will be held at the Zoeller Funeral Home, on Sunday September 30, 2012 at 2:00pm. A second memorial service, soon to be announced, will be held in Houston.