In Memory of William A. “Bill” Brookshire
William Alfred "Bill" Brookshire, co-founder and longtime chairman of S&B Engineers
and Constructors, Ltd, died peacefully on the afternoon of Friday, April 21, at his
beloved home on the Neches River outside Lufkin, his hometown. He was 81 years old.
Bill graduated from Lufkin High School at the age of 16 where he played football and
made lifelong friends. He attended Kilgore Junior College on a football scholarship.
He then finished his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in night school at
University of Houston. He completed his master's and PhD in chemical engineering in
1960 at Louisiana State University with the help of a fellowship from Humble Oil.
Some of his favorite honors were being inducted into the LSU College of Engineering’s
Hall of Distinction 2012-2013 and being named a University of Houston Distinguished
Alumni in 2016 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1989.
His first job after college was at the Humble Oil plant in Baytown, Texas. In 1966,
he moved to SIP where he met James G. Slaughter Sr. Together they founded S&B in 1967.
This year, he and his current business partner, James G. Slaughter Jr., and their
employees are celebrating 50 years of a thriving business. S&B started out in a leased
funeral home with wives decorating and daughters answering the phone. It now has offices
worldwide and employs over 7,000 people. Still, it is not uncommon to meet team members
with decades of tenure and families with multiple members as current or former employees.
Bill’s professional honors include being a past member of Government Programs Steering
Committee of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a past vice chairman of
the Engineering and Construction Contracting Division of the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers Executive Board, a former member of the Rice University Engineering
Board of Review, a former member of the Board of Industrial Advisors for the University
of Houston College of Technology, and a 1998 recipient of the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers Engineering and Construction Contracting Division Award.
His later years were filled with great satisfaction when he created The William A.
Brookshire Foundation. The primary purpose is to provide scholarships for children
of S&B employees and engineering students that are also working to support themselves
as he did. He ensured that The Foundation will live beyond him to continue its support
for students. He often retold the stories and accomplishments of his scholarship recipients
that he got to know through annual visits to the schools and their letters to him.
Anyone who knew him would say, Bill’s happiest days were spent in the woods, hunting
and fishing. He also enjoyed skeet shooting, photography and watching college football
especially UH Cougars and LSU Tigers. He loved hosting people at his home in East
Texas where he proved to be a master cook. In his mind, a perfect day was spent with
friends or family, a fire in the fireplace, a dry martini and a good cigar. Bill was
an avid life-long learner. He studied everything from finance to fruit trees. The
family joked that if he was grumpy then he must be between projects.
He is preceded in death by his parents Fannie Estelle "Lawless" and Brady Bell Brookshire.
He is survived by his three children, Lori and her husband John Garrison; James "Brook"
and his wife Julie Brookshire; and Christina "Crissy" Brookshire. His legacy will
shine on in his treasured grandchildren William "Will" Brookshire, Connor Garrison
and Caroline Garrison.
If you would like to make your gift by check, make check payable to: LSU Foundation
Notation Line: William Brookshire Memorial
Send to: LSU Foundation, 3796 Nicholson Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
The LSU Foundation will work with Mr. Brookshire’s family to establish the purpose of tribute funds contributed through this effort. His family will also represent all donors for any needed revision to the purpose of the fund.
The LSU Foundation will share notices about memorial gifts with Mr. Brookshire’s family. We do not share the gift amount unless a donor explicitly gives us permission to do so.