Robert Sidney Brush

Robert Sidney Brush passed peacefully on May 8, 2019, at his home in New Braunfels, Tx. Robert (Bob) was born on September 22, 1926, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the oldest of four children born to the late Robert Lowell and Lesta (Hall) Brush. He was preceded in death by his wife June Rose (Perkins) Brush and his brother Tom Brush. Bob is survived by his sister Louise Thorp, his brother Charles Brush, his four children Kirk Brush, Robert Brush, Kenneth Brush, and Susanna (Brush) Harrison, his seven grandchildren Melia Brush, Nicole Brush, Veronica Brush, Abigail (Harrison) Montgomery, Trevor Harrison, Lauren Harrison, and Autumn (Brush) Olinger, and his three great grandchildren Jackson Olinger, Payton Olinger, and Robert Montgomery V. Bob graduated high school in 1944 and enlisted in the Navy, becoming an officer in the Marines. When WWII ended, he continued his education at Tulane University in New Orleans where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering. In the late 1940’s, Bob worked as an engineer with C.F. Braun & Co. in Texas. In 1950 he entered military service again during the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S Army’s 409th Engineering Brigade while deployed in Korea. After his military service in Korea, Bob again worked for C.F. Braun and Co., moving frequently around the U.S. on projects at oil refineries and chemical plants. In Houston, he met and married June Rose Perkins in 1953. In 1959, Bob went to work for Amerada Hess Corp. where he gained valuable experience in liquid terminal operations, eventually settling in the Houston area in 1961. In 1974 he accepted a position with Intercontinental Terminals Co. of Houston (ITC) as Vice President and General Manager of Terminals Operations. He remained in the Houston area until 1996 when he moved to Austin, retiring as Executive Vice President of ITC, and continued to consult with ITC on a part-time basis, retiring for good in 1998. Bob lost his wife, June, in 2000. In 2004 he moved to New Braunfels with his son Kenneth and granddaughter Autumn, where he was also closer to his daughter Susanna and her husband Doug and his grandchildren Abigail, Trevor, and Lauren, all living in New Braunfels at that time. While working for Intercontinental Terminals Co. of Houston, Bob served on the board of The Independent Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) as a Director, Vice President, Vice Chairman, Chairman, and Chairman Emeritus. He was considered a leading authority in the bulk liquid storage industry, offering his consulting expertise to industry companies in the U.S. and abroad, traveling to Europe, Asia, and South America. Upon his retirement in 1995, he earned recognition and appreciation of his contributions to the welfare of the Independent Liquid Terminal Association and the bulk liquid storage industry. Bob had a love for photography that started back in his days serving in the Korean War, a love that he carried on for the rest of his life. He was one of the few photographers that made use of the stereoscopic 35mm color slide format. He produced an extensive photo collection of life in 1950’s Korea and ventured on several professionally guided photography trips thru the southwestern U.S. He also preserved family memories with numerous high quality photos while maintaining an extensive dark room, developing film, and later spending thousands of hours scanning all his film images to digital format and providing his children and grandchildren each with digital recordings of his photos. Bob was also a voracious reader of books that included military histories, national parks, and a variety of fiction. While in his 40’s, golf became a hobby he enjoyed and played well enough to win a few club tournaments. Bob especially enjoyed retirement surrounded by his family, and life at his home on the Harrison Ranch in New Braunfels, Tx. He led a long and full life in his 92 years and will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Harrison Ranch. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice in New Braunfels, Tx.