Frank Blizzard

Francis “Frank” Blizzard, beloved family man, dynamic businessman, and Brenham community leader, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. He spent his final weeks surrounded by family members and supported by his wife, Margaret E. Blizzard, with whom he had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May.

Known for his warmth, integrity, honesty, and sense of humor, Frank passed down those traits to his four sons, along with invaluable lessons learned throughout his remarkable life journey from a small town in Pennsylvania to a ranch in Burton, Texas.

Born into a working-class family in Upland, Pa., on April 4, 1931, during the Great Depression, Frank was a self-made businessman who learned the value of hard work and sacrifice at an early age. He began selling Liberty Magazines at age 8, the first of many jobs he held as a child.

After graduating from high school, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949 and served during the Korean War. After leaving the Army, he married his high-school sweetheart, Margaret Lowthert, and they began raising a family together. Frank worked as a general laborer at Sun Oil Refining and as a mechanic at DuPont until he landed a job as a Lab Tech at Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). Later, while attending night college at Widener University, Frank steadily climbed the corporate ranks of Atlantic Richfield Company to become a propane salesman for the Mid-Atlantic. After he received his business administration degree, ARCO promoted him to management and transferred him to Dallas, where he worked as national distribution manager until 1975. Oil was booming in Texas, and he launched his own propane trading business in Houston, Blizco Petroleum, Inc., which, due to his hard work and business acumen, became a huge success.

In 1989, Frank retired from the propane trading business, and he and Margaret moved to a ranch he had purchased in Washington County, near Brenham. Having grown up near three racetracks, he had always dreamed of owning race horses and began raising thoroughbreds, ultimately producing 20 winning horses.

After leaving the horse business, Frank began to devote more time to local politics and community service. For a period of time, he served as Chair of the Democratic Party in Washington County. Being a Democrat in rural Texas is no easy thing, but Frank loved a challenge and never took the easy way out.

Frank’s philanthropic community efforts focused on the youth and the elderly. Through his fundraising efforts for the Boys & Girls Club of Brenham, the Club raised enough money to provide an excellent after-school and summer program for several hundred children. Frank also set up a college scholarship in his hometown of Upland, Pennsylvania, as a way of giving back and demonstrating his passion for helping less fortunate kids get ahead.

To improve the lives of elderly residents in the community, Frank joined the board of the Washington County Healthy Living Association and took a lead role in efforts to build a new senior activity center. After years of tireless fundraising, the vision became a reality, and the grand opening of the Margaret E. Blizzard Senior Activity Center was held on February 22, 2016. Two years later, the Center is thriving, with a large dining room and activities throughout the Center ranging from chair yoga to games to meditation.

In February 2017, Frank was named Man of the Year at the annual Washington County Chamber of Commerce banquet. He was also a member of the American Legion and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2003, Frank joined Margaret, a lifelong Catholic, as a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Brenham. He was a devoted family man and was extremely proud of his sons, their families, and their many professional accomplishments.

Frank is survived by his wife, Margaret; four sons: Ed and his wife, Diana; Tom and his wife, Toni; Joe and his wife, Jane; and Mike and his wife, Karen; six grandchildren: Megan Blizzard, Anna Greenberg (Matt), Ryan Blizzard (Blair), Patrick Blizzard, John Blizzard, and Matthew Blizzard; and one great-grandchild, Emma Greenberg.

He is also survived by his sisters, Doris McElwee, Ann Achuff, and Diane Lanzilotti; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the kind staff of Hospice Brazos Valley.

Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, July 22, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 23, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brenham. Following the burial at Calvary Cemetery, there will be a reception at the Margaret E. Blizzard Senior Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Washington County Healthy Living Association or the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, http://www.seniorcenterbrenham.com/ , http://www.bgc-brenham.org/ .

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, TX 77833, 979-836-4564.

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