H. A. Middlebrooks

One of life's most wonderful characters H.A. "Ham" Middlebrooks left us on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. A native of Abilene, Ham amassed a long and distinguished list of accomplishments in his 87 years here but, more importantly, he lived an incredible life full of adventure and the most interesting people. Services for Ham will be Saturday, November 5, 2016, 1 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. B.J. Estes, Tommy Estes, Bob Gill, Bob Riley, Bob Beckham and Bob Bailey. Ham was born January 20, 1929, to Mary Sue and John Otis Middlebrooks. He grew up fishing and hunting and when his dad couldn't take him, he took himself with a rod or rifle across the handlebars of his bike. A devoted Boy Scout, he spent many summers at Camp Tonkawa as a camper and counselor. He played football, basketball and baseball throughout his school days and at Abilene High School. He went on to play football at McMurry College with a number of returning World War II veterans and they enjoyed several championship seasons. The friendships he made throughout his playing days lasted a lifetime. After graduating college in 1951, Ham taught and coached at North Junior High for two years. He then entered the insurance business, first with Amicable and then Prudential before starting his own agency, Ham Middlebrooks Insurance. He worked with large institutions and companies but also took care of families and small businesses. He retired in 1992. Ham was very active in the community and started several things that remain institutions in the Big County today. He was gift chairman for the first West Texas Rehabilitation Center telethon and co-founded the Sports Show that is still held each winter. Ham was instrumental in having the public school stadium named for P.E. Shotwell, longtime Abilene coach and athletic director. He also started "Big I" Day, an annual golf tournament and mixer for insurance agents, adjustors and underwriters. The idea was to encourage the large companies to write more business in Abilene, giving agents and customers more and better options for their insurance needs. The effort was successful. While serving on the Sports Committee for the Chamber of Commerce, Ham brought the Pecan Bowl to Abilene. It was a nationally televised NCAA Division II football championship that stayed here three years before moving onto Arlington. Ham and his committee worked with the NCAA, television network officials and raised substantial money to finance such an endeavor. While hosting the visiting teams, he wanted the players and coaches to have an authentic West Texas experience. They were treated to a wild game barbeque (with local hunters providing the quail, dove, venison and elk), visits to working ranches and oil rigs, toured Dyess Air Force Base, and saw pecans harvested and shelled. In 1966 the Pecan Bowl made NCAA history when Grambling (an all black school) met North Dakota State (an all white school), the first time for such a match up. North Dakota State won the game but the Grambling band stole the show. The next year, an ice storm that had frozen the field solid threatened the game's cancellation. Ham went on local television the day before, asking for volunteers to spend the night shoveling. The turnout to help was enormous and kickoff was on time. Ham was named Outstanding Young Man of Abilene in 1965 and was on the Abilene School Board for 12 years, president for six. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he served on numerous boards and helped found the Griswald Sunday School Class. He was president of the Cooper Cougar Booster Club and spearheaded the fund raising effort to build the existing field house. A member of the Bass Club, he also coached Little League baseball and refereed area football and basketball games. He served on the Taylor County Appraisal District and was a member of the McMurry Board of Trustees. He belonged to the Optimist Club and chaired the Christmas tree lot project for a number of years. While a successful businessman and busy community leader, Ham still found time to stay close to his first love – football. He helped Darrell Royal recruit for the University of Texas and in recognition of his contributions to the program, was named honorary coach of the 1967 Texas-OU game which the Longhorns won. He followed and supported the careers of his many friends in coaching, wherever those jobs took them Ham lived a remarkable life. He had a legion of friends and never went anywhere in this world that he didn't run into one of them – and make a new one. He had the biggest heart for people and animals in need, helping in very public ways but doing even more behind the scenes. He visited countless hospital rooms and never missed a memorial service for anyone he remotely knew. He never forgot a name but, more importantly, always remembered what they cared about. He had a remarkable sense of humor that always made you laugh but also made you think. He admired people with strong convictions, even if they differed from his, and he was always for the underdog. He was grateful for the opportunities that came his way and tried to open doors for others. Sixty-eight years ago, Ham married his high school sweetheart Janice Gentry. He said it was the smartest thing he ever did. She and three of their four children survive him: Melanie Middlebrooks Watts (Danny) and Suzanne Middlebrooks, both of Austin; Scott Middlebrooks (Kathy) of Abilene; grandchildren Chris and Brooke Watts and Anji Middlebrooks; and two great grandsons. David Middlebrooks, his youngest son, died in a boating accident in 1988 at the age of 29. There is extended family in East Texas and California. Memorials can be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, Hospice of the Big Country, and Hendrick Home for Children.