In Memory

L. Z. Bryan (Football Coach)

L. Z. Bryan (Football Coach)

L.Z. Bryan

L.Z. Bryan, 80, of Lake Jackson, Texas, died Monday, July 27, 2009, at Methodist Hospital after a brief illness.

He was surrounded by his family as he began his new life.

The son of L.Z. Bryan and Clara Mayse Bryan, he grew up in Houston, Texas, where he graduated from Milby High School in 1946. He graduated from the University of Houston, where he played football and was named to the 1949 All-Gulf Coast Conference team. L.Z., also known as Coach, was a high school football coach for 42 years. Eighteen of those years were at Brazoswood High School, where he compiled a record of 150-40-4, advancing to the state playoffs nine times and winning the 1974 Texas State 4A Football Championship. He was named District Coach of the Year seven times by his fellow district coaches. He coached the 1976 South Football All-Star Team for the Texas High School Coaches Association. Later, in 1983, Coach would serve as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Honor in 1990. After coaching at Brazoswood, he served as the athletics director for Brazosport ISD until retirement.

Coach was an active member of the Lake Jackson First United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Golf Committee for the City of Lake Jackson. Coach enjoyed many golf games at The Wilderness Golf Course. He was a Master Mason. Coach always has been interested in helping young men develop into good citizens, as well as outstanding athletes. Many have furthered their education due to a scholarship named in his honor.

Equally important in his life was his family. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and best friend, Helen Laura; daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Melvin W. (Pinky) Anders of Lake Jackson; daughter, Nancy, and her husband, John R. Gilbert of Lake Jackson; son, Larry Bryan, and his wife, Cheryl, of Houston; his grandchildren, Robin Lapier and husband, Jimmie, Holly Ross, Bryan Gilbert and his wife, Julie, Brad Gilbert, Justin Gilbert and his wife, Courtney, Austin Gilbert, Travis Bryan, Tyler Bryan, Andrew Smith and Mathew Smith; his great-grandchildren, Scott Lapier, Blake Lapier, Chase Ross, Walker Gilbert, Braden Gilbert, Grant Gilbert and Justin Gilbert II. Also surviving Coach is his sister-in-law, Tricia Semands, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, at the Lake Jackson First United Methodist Church.

The family will have a private burial service preceding the memorial service.

The grandsons will serve as pallbearers, and past players and coaches will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends Thursday, July 30, 2009, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Restwood Funeral Home in Lake Jackson.

Memorial donations may be made to the L.Z. Bryan/Flash Walker Scholarship Fund, 309 Linden Lane, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566, or to the charity of your choice.