Bruce Watkin Barrick

Bruce Watkin Barrick of Austin, TX was born on June 29, 1948 and passed away from natural causes in his home on July 12, 2010. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas and was graduated from Coronado High School in 1967. His involvement in politics began during his high school years.

He attended Southwestern University at Georgetown, TX from 1967 to 1970 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas Tech University in 1973. He became a member of the Iota Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Southwestern University and helped establish a chapter at Texas Tech. In 1987 he was instrumental in establishing the Iota Chapter Alumni Association of Kappa Sigma and later served as the president.

Bruce began his career in public relations, political consulting and legislative advocacy after college and pursued it throughout his life. The political campaigns in which he participated, the organizations for which he consulted and the private and public advocacy groups which he assisted on a professional or pro bono basis are numerous. He was particularly pleased to have been associated with LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens). He had a strong concern for the environment and was associated with the Texas Conservation Alliance and the Springs Alliance. In education he was associated with the Austin Community College as well as Texas Tech and Southwestern universities.

Bruce was preceded in death by his mother, Rosemary Watkin Barrick; his grandparents, William Ward Watkin, a celebrated architect in Houston and grandmother, Annie Ray Watkin; his grandfather, Charles Emery Barrick and grandmother, Hester Idella Barrick.

He is survived by his father, Nolan Elmore Barrick and his wife Betty Shafer Barrick; his sister, Anne Hester Barrick Smith and her husband Charles Austin Smith and their son, Austin William Smith of Corpus Christi, TX. He is also survived by his great aunt Ray Watkin Hoagland Strange and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held in Austin on Wednesday, July 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 S. Congress Ave. 78704. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010 in the University Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe 78705, with parking available at the Platinum parking lot. The Reverends Dr. Ralph Mann, Bernie Sandberg and Pastor J. D. Elshoff will officiate.

The pallbearers will be Rich Armstrong, Jim Boynton, Alan Haworth, Steve Hopkins, Steve Nagle, and Norwood Williams.

A visitation will be held in Houston on Friday, July 23, 2010 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the George H. Lewis Funeral Home, 1010 Bering Houston, 77057. A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Ave., Houston 77007. The Reverend Mary Wilson of St. Martin's Episcopal Church will officiate.

In lieu of the usual remembrances friends and family may want to consider gifts to the Texas Conservation Alliance, P. O. Box 6295, Tyler, TX 75711 or Southwestern University at Georgetown, 1001 East University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626-6107.