George Sampson Nalle

George Sampson Nalle, Jr., ‘Tex’ to his friends, died peacefully at his home Thursday morning, following a protracted illness. Tex was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Anne Byrd, “Amber” Nalle, December 8, 2000. Tex was born November 27, 1919 in Austin, the only child of George S. Nalle, Sr. of Austin and Ouida Ferguson Nalle of Temple. Tex attended Pease Elementary School, Austin High School, and The University of Texas where he earned a B.A. degree in June ‘41. Tex also earned an Eagle Scout Badge. Tex’s grandparents, Miriam Amanda and James Edward Ferguson, served four non-consecutive terms as Texas Governor from 1915 to 1935. The ‘Ferguson Era’ was a colorful time in Texas history and was very much a part of Tex’s early life. As a young man Tex lived in the Governor’s Mansion, frequently answering the telephone, quickly learning to separate serious callers from crack-pots. His 15th birthday party (1934) was a seated formal dinner at the Mansion. A private audience with the Pope in Rome (in appreciation for consistent opposition to the KKK); participation in Mexican banquets (where only the finest beer was served in honor of the Texas Governor- Cuban beer); participation in Cuban banquets (where only the finest beer was served in honor of the Texas Governor- Mexican beer); a ‘family’ relationship with Poncho Villa (sometimes Ferguson facilitator in Mexico); these were some of the many events which shaped Tex’s early life. Tex’s father, a WWI veteran and reserve officer, was activated in 1939 and assigned to the General Staff in Washington. Believing that US participation in WWII was inevitable, Tex joined Officer Candidate School upon his college graduation. Tex was commissioned in the US Army Air Corp immediately before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Initially assigned to the wind tunnel staff at Wright Field (Dayton, Ohio) Tex was introduced to Anne Byrd Woods, ‘Amber’, of Baltimore, by mutual friends. That was when he became ‘Tex’, so dubbed by his future mother-in-law. The couple spent their Summer of ‘42 sailing the Chesapeake Bay. Wed in ‘43, Amber kept Tex ‘sailing’ until her death in 2000. Following the end of hostilities with Germany, Tex, then a First Lieutenant, was assigned to a team of US plastics industry experts who went to Germany to investigate the status of the German Plastics Industry. That assignment ignited Tex’s life-long interest in plastics processing and established life-long relationships with German and US plastics industry experts. Following his discharge from the military, Tex, Amber, and George III (born in 1945) returned to Texas and joined with Tex’s father (Wharton School of Business) to start Nalle Plastics, Inc. Tex and his father worked side by side from 1946 until the company was sold circa 1986. In the 1970's and early 1980's Tex’s three sons, George III, Alan, and Bill worked for the company. The company was founded based upon ‘custom’ injection-molded products, following technology Tex had observed in Germany. Later the company moved into extruded plastic netting. Significant products include: membrane support for renal dialysis (artificial-kidney), membrane support for blood oxygenation (heart-lung machine), membrane support for reverse-osmosis (de-salting of sea water), and pleat support for hydraulic filtration (aerospace). Tex was active in the Society of Plastics Engineers, attaining the status of Fellow in 1991. Tex was inducted into the Society of Plastics Industry Hall of Fame during the National Plastics Exposition of 1997. Along the way Tex was a member of the downtown Rotary Club for 55 years, mayor of Rollingwood ‘64-’68, member Knights of the Symphony, member Board of Trustees Southwest Research Institute, member Lone Star chapter of the Gemological Institute of America, and member UT Chancellor’s Council. Tex is survived by his sons, George S. Nalle III, Alan Woods Nalle, Sr., and William Byrd Nalle; his daughters-in-law, Carole Gasaway Nalle, and Christie Bomar Nalle; his grandchildren, Brian James Nalle and wife Karen Fricke Nalle, Karen Nalle Oddo and husband Chris Oddo, Alan Woods Nalle, Jr., Laura Lea Nalle, Camille Anne Nalle and William Jordan Nalle; his first cousin, James Watt and wife Barbara; numerous nieces and nephews; many dear friends; and his cat, Delos. Pall Bearers will be: David Bounds, David Delgado, Earl Dumitru, Dudley Fowler, Bert Hofer, and James Watt. The family expresses deep appreciation to Angel Healthcare, Inc.; care-givers Linda Castillo, Annette Elliot, Lola Otolorin, Clara Thomas, and Debbie Villegas; physician and friend Dr. John Murray; Physical Therapist Su Lim; companion David Delgado; and many friends notably Charles Bomar and Earl Dumitru all of whom provided invaluable assistance during Tex’s long and difficult illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Rotary Club College Endowment Fund, 104 Academy Drive, Austin, TX 78704; the Boy Scouts of America, Capitol Area Council, 7540 Ed Bluestein Blvd, Austin, TX 78723; or, charity of your choice. A funeral service celebrating Tex’s life will be held at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar Blvd, 452-8811, Sunday September 21st, at 1:30PM. Internment at the Bunny Run Family Cemetery will follow; reception for family and friends thereafter, at Bunny Run. Arrangements are under the direction of Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com