Comer Joseph Cottrell Jr.

COTTRELL, Comer Joseph Cottrell Jr., 82 passed away Friday, October 3, 2014. Born December 7, 1931 in Mobile, Alabama, he was 15 when he graduate from a private high school in 1946 and attended the University of Detroit a Jesuit college. He served in the United States Air Force. In 1970, Mr. Cottrell and his brother James Cottrell founded Pro-Line Corporation, and African-American hair care products company in Los Angeles, California. In 1979, prompted by the company’s success he moved the company to Dallas, Texas. In 1990, Mr. Cottrell purchased and restored the former Bishop College land and moved Paul Quinn College from Waco to its Dallas campus. In addition to his interest in education philanthropy, in Mr. Cottrell became the first African American to hold a major state in a professional baseball team, the Texas Rangers. Mr. Cottrell is survived by his wife, Felisha Cottrell of Dallas; a daughter, Renee Cottrell-Brown of Arlington, Texas; four sons, Comer Cottrell III of Dallas; Aaron Cottrell of New York; Bryce Cottrell, a University of Texas Austin Student and Lance Cottrell, a student at the University of Colorado; a brother, James Cottrell of Dallas; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, October 13 at 1:00 pm at the Potter’s House - 6777 W. Kiest Blvd., Dallas, Texas 74236-3006. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Comer J. Cottrell Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, Paul Quinn College at 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd, Dallas, Texas 7524. For additional information about the scholarship fund, please go to: www.pqc.edu.