Theodore Liljenwall

As a child of parents who immigrated to the US in the early 1900's, Ted was proud of his Scandinavia heritage and kept in touch with many relatives in Sweden and Finland throughout his life.

Growing up in Pasadena with twin older sisters Bess and Sophie and younger brother Bob, Ted often dreamed about going into his father's nursery business, and he was devoted to his mother Jeannie. He attended Marshall Jr. High grades 7-10 and Pasadena Jr. College for last two years of high school where he met one of his lifelong friends Chuck Bakaly.

Ted was determined to serve his country during WWII. After enlisting in the Navy in 1944, Ted's two-year tour of duty included several trips from the naval base in San Diego to the Asian-Pacific area, which included time spent in Hawaii, Okinawa, and Tokyo, as well as service on the USS Kent Island and USS Lexington. He received the World War II Victory Medal and has fond memories of taking off and landing on the 'Lex' during a recent reunion celebration. While on leave from Navy, Ted applied to and was accepted by Stanford University, which he attended from 1946-1949. As a letterman on Stanford's football team, Ted was 'very quick' for his six foot 220 lb. frame, securing positions of right guard and defensive tackle, and was recognized as an 'All -American' player. His love, devotion to and support for 'his team' never waned often recalling the high points of many games as well as the particulars of his many of his teammates who were veterans of WWII. At Stanford Ted was also a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Upon earning a B S degree in Industrial Engineering, Ted attended Harvard Business School to secure his MBA, graduating with honors in June of 1951.

While in Boston, Ted met Margaret McDowell, whom he proposed to after dating for three weeks. They were married on Oct. 13, 1951 at Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas and began life together in Oakland, CA.

Ted worked for Pacific Tire and Rubber Company as Executive Vice President, working closely with owners Ed Pauley and Mansfield Tire and Rubber Company, Mansfield, OH.

There they had their first two children, Caroline and Pam. In 1958, Ted, Margaret and 'the girls' moved to Texas, where he and Walker McDowell started Hawkinson Tire Mileage HTM, whose location at 735 South Flores St. soon became familiar to many in local and surrounding communities. During this time, Ted and Margaret were blessed with three more children - Linda, Erik and Ted. As the company expanded it became known as American Tire Mileage Specialists ATM, the largest Bandag retreading operation and Michelin dealer for new tires in Texas with locations in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Pearsall and Laredo. Several of his children and sometimes their friends joined him in the tire business that they affectionately called 'Camp Tire'. Multi-talented and skilled at so many vocations, Ted again continued his education to obtain his real estate broker's license. After selling ATM in 1986, Ted formed LGI Real Estate.

During the past 15 years, Ted has remained active in many real estate and community projects as well as the Boysville agriculture program and ensuring that Boysville graduates obtain college scholarships to further their education. Current activities and memberships include: Bexar County Rail District Board, Freeport Business Center, South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Free Trade Alliance, San Antonio Board of Realtors, Lifetime Trustee and former president Boysville Board of Directors, Past Chairman and current member Boysville Foundation, 1982 Boysville Arch Angel, Director Emeritus San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Stanford Alumni and Stanford football activities, and Harvard Business School Alumni activities. Numerous other activities during his lifetime have included Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Breakfast Club Past President, and the San Antonio Kiwanas Club.

What we would call 'challenges' were 'opportunities for Ted! Driven by enormous compassion for others in need, tenacious determination to complete any task set before him with enthusiasm and the innate creative ability to look at situations from many angles, Ted's zest for life and ability to focus on many things at once inspired us all. Ted always found time for friends and family. From his daily visits for coffee with friends and business associates in the Milam Café, to hunting trips at the H&O Ranch in south Texas, to fishing on the gulf coast as well as numerous other events and special occasions he shared with others, Ted cared so much about everyone he was connected with, especially his 14 grandchildren - often telling others how proud he was of all of their interests and activities.

Ted's deep faith was fueled by his strong belief in the importance of family and the miraculous recovery of his daughter from leukemia at a time when a cure seemed so distant. He will be tremendously missed.

Ted was predeceased by father Erik G.V. Liljenwall, mother Jeannie Liljenwall Walker, twin sisters Bess and Sophie. Survivors include his wife for fifty-one years, Margaret M. Liljenwall; children: Caroline Crider and husband John, San Antonio, TX; Pam Imig and husband Gary, Cheyanne, WY; Linda Leissner and husband Denton, Bay City, TX; Erik G.V. Liljenwall, II and wife Becky, Dallas, TX and Ted H. Liljenwall and wife Emily, San Antonio, TX; brother: Robert 'Bob' J. Liljenwall and wife Louise, Newport Beach, CA; and grandchildren: Patricia and Elizabeth Crider; Amanda and Katherine Imig; Chance, Poth and Cole Leissner; Lauren, Malorie, Triple and Guy Walker Liljenwall; Helen, Grace and James Liljenwall; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the world.

Honorary Pallbearers: John Crider, Gary Imig, Denton Leissner, John Erik Liljenwall, Charles Bakaly, John Oppenheimer, Norm Charlton, George Carson, Dr. Larry Stone, Wes Reed, and Bill Cavazos.

The family wishes to extend their overwhelming gratitude to the doctors, nurses, health professionals and patient care managers who faithfully cared for Ted over the past several years.