Houston Allen Brice Jr

On November 24, 1917, Houston Allen Brice, Jr., was born in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of Houston Allen Brice and Earlyne Reynolds Brice. He received his grammar and high school education at Lakeview and Ramsey, both in Birmingham. Mr. Brice's college education was obtained from Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Hawaii and the University of Michigan from which he received the Bachelor or Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees. During World War II, Houston Brice spent four years in the service of his country. Following the end of this conflict, he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1943, Houston Allen Brice, Jr. was united in marriage to Elisabeth Derry Ferguson, and to this union was born three daughters and a son. W. B. Leedy & Company, a Birmingham real estate and banking firm, is where Houston Brice, Jr., began his business career. It was later that he joined his father's Birmingham-based Brice Building Company, Inc. In this business enterprise he rose successively from secretary, to vice president, to president, and to his current position as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. He c retained the title of Chairman Emeritus. In addition to its home office in Birmingham, Brice Building Co., has offices in New Orleans and Atlanta. Mr. Brice's corporate directorships included South Trust Bank of Alabama and Jefferson Federal Savings and Loan Association of Birmingham. He served on the boards of non-profit organizations such as the Alabama Symphonic Association, Eye Foundation Hospital, and Birmingham Museum of Art, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and many others. Much of Houston Brice's talents and were expended in the leadership of educational causes, particularly in support of Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Altamont School. Among the many youth movements that have benefited from his strong support, probably none received more interest than the Boy Scouts of America program. As evidence of his loyalty and devotion to this outstanding organization, Houston Allen Brice, Jr., was awarded its coveted Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope Merit of Honor Citations. His religious affiliation was with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. He was a member of its Board of Deacons, Fine Arts Committee, Music committee, and a director of Kirkwood-by-the-River for many years. As a result of his progressive and energetic direction of Brice Building Company, this firm became one of the most prominent and highly respected construction companies in the Southeast, consistently appearing in Engineering News Record's list of the country's top 400 contractors. Houston Brice passed away in February 2005.