Thomas Jefferson Bryant

T.J. "Whitey" Bryant, Sr., 97, of Laguna Vista, Texas, passed away Monday, December 23, 2013, in Katy, Texas. THOMAS JEFFERSON BRYANT was born June 13, 1916, in Thomaston, Georgia, the son of T.W. and Nettie Jane (Dickens) Bryant. He lived in an orphanage in Macon, Georgia, until the age of 8, when he forged his birth certificate and joined the U.S. Marines., at the age of 15. Serving first on "Santiago" during the battle in Nicaragua. He saw duty in the China Sea, the Philippines and served on the Battleship Texas. After his discharge, he lived in various places in the United States traveling by freight trains before settling in Galveston, Texas, in 1924. A very determined and driven man, T.J. made many successful business decisions and eventually founded several maritime corporations, employing over 800 employees. But with his success also came some missed opportunities. He made a trip to Las Vegas with some of his friends from Galveston who tried to convince him that he should join them in opening a hotel and casino there. His reply to them was, "I do not believe people will be willing to come to the desert for fun." Another lost opportunity occurred when T.J. refused to invest $10,000 with a gentleman in a white suit with a goatee, who wanted to start a fast food chain. That gentleman was Colonel Sanders, and needless to say, Kentucky Fried Chicken became a huge success without T.J. In 1961, T.J. moved to Austin County and purchased a ranch in Millheim. Boots and Saddle Ranch became known for their world champion appaloosa and quarter horses. T.J. served as the President of the Gulf Coast Appaloosa Horse Club and the Society of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineers. He also donated property along the Houston Ship Channel to the Texas A&M Marine University. Retirement at the age of 60 did not slow T.J. down. He loved fishing and moved to South Padre Island where he became the President of the Edgewater Condo Homeowner''s Association. He also enjoyed traveling to Acapulco, Vail, Colorado, and Lake Tahoe, California before finally returning to the sun and sand in Texas. T.J. is survived by his DAUGHTER: Diane Abel and her husband, Travis, of Sealy; SON: Jeff Bryant and his wife, Misty, of Katy; and STEP-DAUGHTERS: Cary Lynn Sims and her husband, Richard, of Bellville and Joni Lee Boston of Edna. Also surviving him are his GRANDCHILDREN: Dee Anne Lerma, Troy Ingenhuett, Michelle Baker, Stacy Patek, Shannon Lay, Stephanie Bryant, Susy Bryant, Jenna Ann Bryant, Jesse Thomas Bryant, Jaycee White-Bryant, John Skylar Zeller, Jake Sims, Molly Sims Grabarschick, Emily Sims, Laraina Crabb, Lindsey Crabb; 24 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; 2 GREAT GREAT GRANDCHILDREN; and many dear friends. T.J. was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Jefferson Bryant, Jr., his parents and his brother, Robert Earl Bryant. Friends who wish may make memorial gifts in Thomas' name to the Rolling Thunder Texas Chapter 2, P.O. Box 60009, Houston, Texas 77205