September 27, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Longtime Houston Civic Leader Passes Away Businessman Bland McReynolds, Dies at Age 85

Retired Houston Businessman Bland McReynolds died peacefully in his sleep in New Braunfels, Texas early this morning at the age of 85. Bland McReynolds dedicated much of his life to civic affairs during Houstons boom town era and was appointed by Houston officials to several leadership positions. McReynolds served as Chairman of the Houston City Planning Commission under Mayor Louie Welch, was a former president of the Houston Zoological Society, and from 1975-86 served under three mayors (Hofheinz, McConn, & Whitmire) as Houstons longest serving and last Director of Civil Defense, a cold war era department that was replaced by todays Office of Emergency Management. McReynolds was a fourth generation Houstonian. John L. McReynolds Middle School is named for grandfather. Stricken by childhood polio, like many of his generation, McReynolds overcame adversity and set high goals for himself and his community. His interest in civic affairs started as a teenager growing up in the Heights, where McReynolds led a Sea Scout troupe that conducted civil defense drills during WWII. McReynolds graduated from the Kinkaid School in 1946, and from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1950. A real estate investor who started out in the apartment business, McReynolds served on the boards of many Houston financial institutions, including Allied Bank of Texas. During his career, he helped found the Houston Apartment Association and was the first president of the Texas Apartment Association. McReynolds also was active politically in local causes involving property rights. In the 1980s, he served a term as president of the River Oaks Property Owners Association. Bland McReynolds is survived by his wife of 15 years who lives in New Braunfels, and three children, two of whom still live in Houston. Arrangements are pending for a service at St. Lukes United Methodist Church, and a family gravesite service at the Forest Park West Cemetery, a West Houston cemetery that McReynolds founded.

Contact: Leticia Ablaza - lablaza@gmail.com