J. "Dick" R. Birdwell

John Richard “Dick” Birdwell, the second son of Carl and Oneta Wall, passed away the 4th day of April, 2012. A graveside service for family will be held at the Aggie Field of Honor on Saturday, April 7, 2012. The celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, April 9, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 220 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845.

Birdwell was born in Stephenville, Texas, on February 23, 1931. He moved to College Station in 1945 and graduated from A&M Consolidated High School in June 1949. He attended The A&M College of Texas where he was a Distinguished Student and a Ross Volunteer. In June 1953 Dick received a degree in Civil Engineering. He also received a Commission in the U.S. Army. Birdwell was on active duty with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1954-1956 and was active in the U.S. Army Reserves until his discharge as a Major in 1965.

After leaving active duty Birdwell was employed as a Civil Engineer with Spencer J. Buchanan and Associates in Bryan, Texas. In 1960 he went to work for The Dow Chemical Company as a Civil Design Engineer in Houston, Texas. In 1967 he moved to Brisbane, Australia, where he was the Project Engineer for a large fertilizer plant. In 1969 he returned to Houston, Texas and assumed the position of Manager of Dow’s Engineering and Construction Services Division. In 1972 he was named President of Dow Engineering Inc. In 1977 the family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas where Dick served as the Manufacturing Manager for Dow’s Freeport Texas Plant. In 1983, Birdwell moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and became the General Manager of Dow’s Louisiana Division. In 1986 Birdwell retired from Dow and moved to College Station where he served as a Construction Consultant to several industrial companies and as an expert witness in construction claims litigation.

Birdwell was active in several engineering organizations. He served as President of the Sam Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE), Vice President of TSPE, and as a Director of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi and an honor member of Chi Epsilon. In 1982 Dick was named “Engineer of The Year” by TSPE and in 2003 was named a Distinguished Graduate of the Zachary Civil Engineering Department of TAMU.

Birdwell was active politically as well. He served his communities as Mayor (’79-‘80) and City Councilman (’80-‘82) in Lake Jackson, Texas and served three terms as a City Councilman in College Station. For several years he was a precinct Chairman and a delegate to the Republican Party State Convention. Birdwell also served as a Mediator for the Dispute Resolution Agency of Brazos County and a Docent for the George Bush Presidential Library and the TAMU Sports Museum. From 2003 to 2008 he was Co-Class agent for the TAMU Class of 1953. He was a long time active member of The Rotary Club of College Station.

After his retirement from Dow, Joyce and Dick traveled extensively visiting all seven continents. They especially enjoyed River Boat cruises on the Worlds Major Rivers.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Carl Jr. and a granddaughter Jackie Birdwell.

Survivors include his wife, of 59 years, Joyce Patranella, a sister Barbara Earp of Farmington, NM, sons Rick and wife Mary, Robert and wife Linda, Randy and wife Suzanne, and Rusty and a daughter Rhonda and husband Michael Neel.

He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Honorary Pallbearers are the living members of the TAMU Class of 1953.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to your favorite charity or one of Dick’s preferred choices:

The Association of Former Students

In memory of Dick Birdwell ‘53

505 George Bush Drive

College Station, TX 77840

Texas A&M Foundation - Corps of Cadets General Scholarship Fund

401 George Bush Drive

College Station, TX 77840