Olney Bruce Swope

Olney Bruce Swope was born February 26, 1953, and passed away at the age of 71 on September 7, 2024. Bruce was born in Taylor, Texas, to Dillard Allen and Oleta Rogers Swope. He was raised in Bartlett, TX, and graduated from Bartlett High School in 1971. Throughout his time in high school, he played football, baseball, track and field and was class president.

Bruce attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. He played football and lettered in track and field. He went on to graduate in 1977 with a degree in Industrial Technology.

In 1979 he founded Swope Construction. He welcomed his only child, Hagan, in February 1984.

From 1986 until 1997, he worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a Construction Program Manager.

In 1997 he moved back to his hometown of Bartlett, Texas where he served as Mayor. In that same year, he started his position as the Facilities Director for the MD Anderson Cancer Center Research Facility in Bastrop, Texas. He retired in 2013.

Bruce loved tailgating with his ‘Old Kats’ where he was called Brillo, watching high school football, snow skiing with his daughter in Ruidoso and officiating the Texas Relays. Bruce was one of a kind!

Bruce leaves behind his daughter, Hagan Farrell and her husband Clay, his grandsons Connor, Luke Olney and Jackson, his brother DA Swope and sister-in-law Janice, their daughters Patty Patnode and Allena Gurley and their families. He also leaves behind many cousins and countless friends.

His Celebration of Life will be held at George’s Banquet Hall in Waco on Saturday, September 28th from 2:00-5:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to the Sam Houston State University Scholarship Fund.