Nilon "Nick" Prater

It is with deep sadness that the family announces the passing of Nilon Houston Prater, known as Nick, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many. He died December 19, 2021 at his home in Round Rock, TX after a brief illness. He was 93.

Nick was born on a farm near Vernon, AL in 1928, to parents Alfred Alonzo Prater and Ada Lee Cash Prater, a child of The Great Depression. The farm had no electricity, no indoor plumbing.   He started first grade in 1934, in a one-room schoolhouse that had three grades. He had already learned beginning reading from his brother and sister, who were in second grade. After that first year, all three kids were promoted to third grade. He continued elementary education in Millport, AL. Meanwhile, on the farm, Nick was also learning to plow fields behind a mule, pick cotton (earning 50 cents per 100 lbs.), how to raise farm animals and slaughter hogs, how to hunt squirrels and rabbits, and how to fish with a cane pole and worms.

Nick, brother Edwin, and sister Bobbie continued in the same grade together until December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The family moved in 1942 to Birmingham, AL where Nick entered 9th grade. After completing ninth grade, he hitchhiked to Vancouver, WA. At that time, one had to be 16 years old to work in the shipyards, so Nick worked at the soda fountain in a drugstore in Washington; then he was able to get a job in an ice cream factory, until he turned 16, at which time he went to work in the shipyards. He was able to attend welding school at full salary, and worked as a welder, building ships at Kaiser Shipyards. There, he chose the night shift and went to school in the daytime. In 1944, he had saved enough money to return to Vernon. He told the school principal that he was a senior, (which the principal accepted without having seen any records), and joined the senior class at Vernon High School. Nick graduated from high school in 1945, not yet 17 years old.

He left Vernon and went to Mobile, AL and worked in a lab, testing bauxite for Alcoa. This led him to sign up for the U.S. Maritime Service (Merchant Marine) in 1945, and he did boot camp in Florida. Next was training at radio school before shipping out to Trinidad, British Guiana, hauling bauxite. In December 1945, he jumped ship when it came into port in Florida. He headed out with no pay, no money, and hitchhiked back to Alabama.

In January 1946, he started three months of air conditioning/refrigeration school, learning those skills quickly, but in March 1946, he couldn't get a job because employers knew he would get drafted. So, in April, still 17 years old, he had to get his dad to sign papers so that Nick could join the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served for two years. He loved his country and was a true patriot.

In 1948, he began college at Florence State, in Florence, Al. In May of that year, he married Cecelia Jane MacDaniel. Nick began thinking of majoring in Chemical Engineering, and his wife encouraged him to transfer to The Georgia Institute of Technology, which he did in spring of 1949. At Georgia Tech, the GI bill paid $120/month for married students,and paid for tuition and books. Jane worked at a bank. Nick worked part time at the bookstore on campus. He took classes continuously, including summer school, and finished all coursework in September 1951. (He is considered Class of 1952.) He received his Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering degree after two and one-half years at Georgia Tech. This pattern of learning as much as he could, as quickly as he could, had been well established already. He felt "I gotta go", "make something of myself".

His first engineering job was with Socony Mobil Oil, as Maintenance Engineer, starting September 1951 in Beaumont, TX. Jane was now newly pregnant with their daughter, Nikki. He loved his work, and remained there 4 years, during which time a second daughter, Laura was born. Whatever job he had, his goal was always to get better at what he was doing, and to take another step forward.  He felt his education was spotty, and he was always competing with better-educated competitors in his career.

In 1955, Nick started working with Chemstrand in Decatur, AL. It was a joint venture of Monsanto and American Viscose, producing synthetic fibers from chemical strands, fibers used in clothing and carpeting.   His next career move, in 1960, was a transfer to Pittsburgh, PA, Mobay Chemical Corp., a joint venture between Monsanto and Bayer, as Project Engineer. While there, sadly, his wife died in the summer of 1962, leaving him a single dad of 10- and 7-year-old daughters. He lovingly cared for them, with responsibility and occasional milkshake treats, and with the help of a housekeeper, even taking his turn as a "Brownie scout mom" as needed.

His successful career progressed, taking him to New Martinsville, WV, and Baytown, TX, as well as Pittsburgh. In 1966 he married Nelda Grace Haught Bucklew, and shortly thereafter, adopted her children Brian and Becky. Another daughter, Cheri, was born from this union.

Busy years ensued, with a succession of positions and advancements in his career, heart bypass surgery, many travels, including with the International Isocyanate Institute, and completion of an Executive M.B.A. program from Northwestern University. In 1986 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Mobay Corp., the U.S. chemicals subsidiary of Germany's Bayer AG. By this time, Mobay's major products were agricultural chemicals, animal health products, coatings chemicals, dyes and pigments, engineering plastics, polyurethanes, and inorganic, organic, and rubber chemicals. Sales for the company were $1.6 billion and employees numbered 6000.

As he approached the end of his career, and anticipated his retirement, his wife Nelda succumbed to cancer in 1989. Nick continued one more year with Mobay and officially retired in July 1990. The company had continued to grow under his leadership, reaching record sales of $2.15 billion by year-end 1989.

Although retired, Nick's involvement in the business community was ongoing, as he was an active board member of several companies, including Calgon Carbon Corporation, Harsco Corporation, Koppers Industries Inc., and Melamine Chemical Co.

As well, he was active in both civic and academic affairs, serving as a member or director of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh High Technology Council, United Way, the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Boy Scouts of America, the Wesley Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, and Robert Morris College. In appreciation of his contributions to the latter's transition to become Robert Morris University, and in recognition of his distinguished career, Nick was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration in 1996. He was also proud to have been inducted into Georgia Tech's Engineering Hall of Fame in 1994.

In 1995, a new opportunity presented itself.  Nick was selected by the University of Virginia to establish a new engineering business course for the engineering curriculum. The former CEO of James River Paper Co. had endowed a chair, and desired for a course to be developed about those practical matters and ethical considerations that engineers/managers may face after they graduate. It would cover real world matters and topics not typically covered in standard textbooks and coursework.   From his experience Nick chose topics such as how to manage one's career, race relations, lawsuits, entrepreneurship, and non-engineering careers. He created the course, and taught it for the first semester, leaving documentation for future visiting professors if desired. The Halsey Professorship still exists today, and provides an ever popular course for UVA seniors.

Later retirement years for Nick included a move to Florida, and later to Texas, more heart surgeries, disciplined exercise, family gatherings, travel, and life-long learning.

In 1992, Nick married his surviving and adoring wife, Jennifer Helen Jensen May. He also leaves, to cherish abundant memories, a loving family, including children Nikki Graham (Tim), Laura Visconti Adkins (Mike), Brian Bucklew, Becky Schwotzer (Eric), Cheri Miller (Jim), stepsons Brian May (Melanie), and Scott May (Katia). His grandchildren include David Graham (Tamyca), Kyle Visconti, Ryan Schwotzer (Amanda), Owen Schwotzer (Lindsay), Rachel Tracy (Tim), Brittany Miller, Stephanie Flower (Ian), Joshua Miller, Isabel May, Thomas May, Kate May and Vicky May.   Great grandchildren include Caleb, Lacey, and Brooke Schwotzer, Madelyn Schwotzer, Adelaide and Elinor Tracy, with two more on the way. He leaves behind other family members, including sister-in-law Carol Garrison (Grant). He is predeceased by his parents, siblings, wives, and in-laws.

Nick will be remembered for his work ethic, great sense of humor, and unfailing integrity. He was a man of his word, as well as a friend one could count on. Though shy by nature, he developed the ability to communicate in a compelling way, whether silently rocking a baby, encouraging his family, mobilizing a sense of teamwork among fellow employees, or "roasting" colleagues in business.  His ability to tell a good story endeared him to many and drew people to him. His grandchildren flocked to him to find what was in his "magic pocket", to the delight of all. He was an avid outdoorsman, and has been described as "an energetic, unassuming and affable Alabamian". He was humble, selfless, generous, and down-to-earth, and knew how to connect with people in all stations of life. Nick not only lived this storied life full of varied experiences and incredible, hard fought and deserved accomplishments, but he was pleased to share what he had learned from those experiences. He had not only a drive to succeed, but had a passion for sharing keen insights and advice, gained from life events, with his appreciative family and friends. He loved his family and they, in turn, appreciated the life lessons he passed on to them. Nick was ever thankful for the blessings in his life. Being around him made each of us a better person. He will be dearly missed.

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no public services. To share condolences and memories, please visit gabrielsfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to Central Texas Food Bank or charities of choice.