Weldon Terry Graham

Weldon Terry Graham passed away on Saturday, June 5, 2021 in Austin, Texas at the age of 71. Terry was born in Austin, Texas, the only child of Lt. Colonel Monroe Weldon Graham and Fanny Willodean Graham.

As part of an Air Force family, Terry’s childhood included time spent in the Philippines, Washington, Massachusetts, and Florida. It was in Florida that he developed a love of golf under the tutelage of his father, who enjoyed bringing his talented 12-year-old son to the course to beat his dad’s military buddies. After 30 years in the Air Force, Terry’s dad retired and moved the family back to Austin. Terry began his 10th grade year at the original Austin High School on Rio Grande Street in a VW bug painted 26 colors. He immediately joined the golf team and frequently spoke later in life of getting to meet and play fellow young Texan golfers Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

After graduating from AHS in 1967, Terry was accepted at the University of Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1972. He spent his career in public service at the Texas Youth Commission under many roles for over 35 years. Working diligently to oversee the fiscal soundness of the state agency as well as serving as a financial resource expert during several Texas legislative sessions, he worked his way up to Deputy Executive Director for Financial Support. Terry’s management and mentorship talents made him a beloved, if exacting, role model. Terry credited much of his success to his colleagues and especially appreciated three outstanding mentors in his life: John Franks, Ron Jackson, and Steve Robinson.

While working at the TYC, he met the love of his life, Abbie Gail Gardner. They married July 4th, 1976, the bicentennial of the United States, on the Wooldridge Square gazebo next to the Travis County courthouse. Their repeated requests for a lowkey ceremony were joyfully and rightly ignored by their friends and family as they descended on the park to tie the knot in the pouring rain. This July they would have celebrated their 45th anniversary. Next, Terry and Gail set about raising two boisterous sons, Thomas and Richard.

Terry attended the University of Texas, Option II MBA Program. Being a lifelong learner, Terry jumped at the chance to continue his studies in finance and business administration culminating in a Master of Business Administration in 1993. After completing the program, he was awarded the George Kozmetsky Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. That Terry could excel academically while working full time and raising a young family should come as no surprise to those who knew him.

Terry was a builder in every sense of the word. In his lifetime, Terry built nearly a dozen homes throughout Travis County using his own plans, tools, and indomitable spirit. The highlight of these experiences was having his sons work alongside him. He and Thomas sweated, swore, and succeeded at building five houses under the scorching Texas sun together. From picking up nails as toddlers to wielding nail guns as young men, Terry taught his sons everything he knew about building a strong foundation for a house and for life.

Terry’s passion for UT football was unrivaled, except maybe by his son Richard. Longhorn sports played a huge role in Terry and Richard’s relationship. Over the last fifteen years, the two attended at least one football game together each year. No matter where they were or what time it was, they always talked on the phone after each game to rehash each play. The post game conversations could easily be as long as the game itself. One of his greatest joys was attending the 2005 National Championship with Richard in Pasadena, California.

Terry’s loyalty and devotion to others is evidenced by the decades-long friendships that he cherished and the adventures he shared with many. Whether it was a hand-built houseboat on Lake Austin or a mountain cabin in Colorado, Terry was happiest when there were friends and family gathered around with a new project to work on together.

Terry was a proud member of Acacia Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma, The Sons of the Republic of Texas, The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, The Jamestowne Society, the General Society of the War of 1812, The Somerset Chapter Magna Charta Barons, the Colonial Order of the Crown, and many other fraternal organizations in the interest of history and academic scholarship.

A modest man, loyal friend, proud father, loving grandfather, and devoted husband, Terry will be deeply and profoundly missed.

Terry is preceded in death by his parents Monroe and Dean Graham. He is survived by his beloved wife Abbie Gail; son Thomas and daughter-in-law Adrian of Austin, Texas, their sons Jude and Eli Graham; son Richard and daughter-in-law Amy of Dallas, Texas, and their daughters Madison and McKenzie Graham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 (718) 987-1931 or online at https://t2t.org/