Max Harris Wier, Jr.

His parents were Max Harris Wier and Grace Burdette Wier. He attended Alamo Heights High School and graduated from Main Avenue High School in 1931.

In 1935 he received a BA degree in Economics from the University of Texas, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He then enrolled in Law School at UT and received his law degree in 1938. After graduation, Max became his father's partner in the law firm of Wier and Wier in San Antonio. The firm was engaged in insurance law, adjusting and general practice. The firm represented USAA, Government Employees Insurance Co and Government Personnel Employees. Max took charge of all claims litigation.

On July 27, 1940, he married Grace Adele Hargis, daughter of Dr. William Huard Hargis and Grace Norton Hargis.

During WW II, he took a leave of absence to serve in the US Army for 39 months. He was a special agent working under the Provost Marshall's office doing investigative work. He was assigned to the Security Intelligence Corps, a group of attorneys doing investigations in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. He was stationed in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Oklahoma City.

After the war, he returned to his law practice in San Antonio and built a home in Terrell Hills. Max, Grace Adele and his parents became founding members of Trinity Baptist Church in June of 1949. In August of that year, Max was left a widower with 3 small children when Grace Adele died from polio during an outbreak of the disease, which also killed her unborn child, her brother, and a nephew. Three other family members survived their bout with polio.

Max shouldered the responsibilities of being a single parent as he continued his law practice.

On November 1, 1951, he married Mary Elizabeth Sheldon, daughter of Joseph Smith Sheldon and Julia Burns Sheldon.

In 1953, he went to work full time at USAA, joining his father in the Claims Department. Equipped with an excellent background of knowledge and practical experience in claims, he rolled up his sleeves and tackled a 5-week backlog of claims in the office. His father assigned him the additional duty of handling personal service claims for members bringing claims directly to the home office - a job for which he was uniquely qualified because of his pleasant personality and unfailing good humor. Like his father, he would develop into one of the industry's real experts in the claims field.

In 1958 he became Manager of the USAA Claims division and traveled around the world helping to set up USAA claims offices to better manage the Association's worldwide membership.

In 1961, he became Vice-President of the Claims division and in 1969 was named Senior Vice President - Claims, with responsibilities for world wide claims operations. He was an industry leader in claims administration and litigation.

He was a founding member of both the Federation of Insurance Council and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Following his retirement in 1978, he enjoyed traveling and occasionally played golf, "but only on days ending in Y!"

Max was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, The Town Club of San Antonio founding member, the San Antonio Country Club, the Exchange Club, and the Rotary Club of San Antonio. He was a founding member and past president of Seven Oaks Country Club. He also held memberships in the San Antonio and Texas Bar Associations. He enjoyed his long association with the Poker Club, a group of couples who for 45 years met once a month for dinner and a friendly game of cards.

Max loved his family. He set high moral standards for his children and constantly stressed honesty and treating others kindly and fairly. He appreciated humor and always had a funny story ready to tell. He was a great husband, father, and grandfather; a well-liked and respected boss; and a good and caring friend to many. We will all miss him very much.

He is survived by Mary Elizabeth Wier, his wife of 51 years along with 4 children and their spouses: Dr. Leighton Wier and wife Linda, Ronald Wier and wife Mary Ellen, Vicki Gilbert and husband Tracy, and Max Wier III and wife Anne. He had 9 grand children: Matt Wier, Brad Wier, Mary Wier Ferguson and husband Charles, Bailey Wier, Zachary Wier, Kim Gilbert, Gene Gilbert, Max Wier IV, and Molly Wier. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister- in- law Judge Joe and Gene Aubrey Briscoe of Devine, Texas and sister- in- laws Lee Hargis, Lucille Strange, and Ann Sims of San Antonio, as well as 16 nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers: Al Kirsling; Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, Louis Haring, Dr. Claude Nabers, Charles Weber, Edward Ryan, Dr. William Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow, P.O. Box 770, Hunt, TX 78024-0770.