Thomas O'Dwyer
Marriages
Jeanne Bird "Biddy" O'Dwyer
56 years
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A10 - May 12, 2006
Thomas A. O’Dwyer of Dallas, Texas, died Wednesday. He was 80.O’Dwyer was born July 21, 1925, in Texarkana, Ark., to Thomas A. and Martha Ryan O’Dwyer. He was married to Jeanne Bird (“Biddy”) O’Dwyer for 56 years.O’Dwyer’s college days at Texas A&M were interrupted by World War II, which he spent in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. After the war, in 1946, he returned to Texas A&M, where he graduated with a degree in management engineering. Shortly after graduation, O’Dwyer joined his Navy friend, Jim Ling at Ling Electric, Inc., where he was named president in 1957. Three years later he and his two partners bought the company and renamed it Ling-Oliver-O’Dwyer Electric. By 1990 it had become the 15th largest electrical contracting company in the nation.O’Dwyer was a three-term president of the Northeast Texas Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. He was on the board of the American Arbitration Association and the National Council of Industrial Relations. He was elected to the National Academy of Electrical Fellows in 1978.
He received the National Conference of Christians and Jews Construction Industry Man of the Year Award in 1976. He was active in the Dallas Citizens Council, the North Texas Commission, the Dallas Crime Commission and the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary. His Catholic faith and commitment to God was always a cornerstone of his life, family members say. He and his family have been active in the at both Christ the King and Holy Trinity parishes in Dallas and St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Mary’s in College Station.O’Dwyer was president of the board of advisors for Jesuit College Preparatory High School and on the boards of Ursuline Academy and the Catholic Foundation. He was named Jesuit Man of the Year in 1977. He holds the papal designation (from Pope Paul VI) of Knights of Malta. He served two terms on the regional board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. An Eagle Scout, he was always active in Boy Scouting. His three sons and four grandsons have all attained the rank of Eagle. He served as vice president for the Scout Region II in 1982 and was twice served as president of the Circle Ten Council. He was given the Silver Beaver Award, Silver Buffalo Award, Silver Antelope Award, Distinguished Eagle Award and St. George Emblem. He was a former president of the Aggie Club at Texas A&M and served on the Association of Former Students board for two years. He was a charter contributor of a 12th Man Scholarship, was founding director of Texas A&M’s Opera and Performing Arts Society and was a member of A&M’s Target 2000 Project Committee, which developed 20-year goals for the A&M System.
He was the recipient of the Hall of Honor Award by the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association. He was also the recipient of the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni Award. He also served for 25 years on the board of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. He was a limited partner in the Texas Rangers from the club’s inception.O’Dwyer loved playing golf, and especially enjoyed the Gerald Ford Golf Classic in Vail, where he and his wife were among the original homeowners and were longtime residents, family members said. He was a charter member of Preston Trails Golf Club and was a longtime Gold Sponsor of the Byron Nelson Golf Classic. He was also a member of the Dallas Country Club and served on the executive committee of the Dallas Summer Musicals. In addition to his wife, Biddy, he is survived by daughters Ann O’Dwyer Blackwell and husband Hugh, and Kay O’Dwyer Miller and husband Frank; sons Thomas R. O’Dwyer and wife Mary, George B. O’Dwyer, and William J. O’Dwyer and wife Lisa; grandchildren Todd and Lori Blackwell, Peter Blackwell, Michael and Mindy Blackwell, Bridget Blackwell, John Miller, Julia Miller, Spence Miller, Liza Miller, Trevor Miller, Patrick Miller, Corey O’Dwyer, Shay O’Dwyer, Ryan O’Dwyer, Elli O’Dwyer and Billy O’Dwyer; great grandchildren Hampton Blackwell and Tommy Blackwell; and special friends Ann Ashe, Allison Berry and Brandon Darrough.
A funeral mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3826 Gilbert at Oak Lawn, on Monday at 11:00 a.m. Pallbearers will be the grandsons. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Sparkman-Hillcrest, 7405 W. Northwest Highway. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the George H. Bird Campership Fund in care of Boys Scouts of America Circle 10 Council, 8605 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75235; or to the Texas A&M Foundation, 505 George Bush, College Station, Texas 77840; or to the 12th Man Foundation, P.O. Drawer L-1, College Station, Texas 77844; or to the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M, 505 George Bush, College Station, Texas 77840; or to the Jesuit Foundation, 12345 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75244.Vail Daily, Vail, Colorado
