William Douglas Haden II

William Douglas Haden II, born the 3rd of March 1932 and passed away at the age of 82 on Wednesday the 18th of June 2014, at his home in Houston, Texas after a courageous battle with cancer. Doug was a fourth generation Houstonian and the son of the late Laura Files Breed and Cecil Rhea Haden. He was a graduate of Lamar High School and the University of Texas at Austin. He was extraordinarily athletic and a gifted runner. He participated in many sports and ran track for Lamar High School, as well as the University of Texas at Austin. Doug was a patriot and proudly served his country in the army for two years during the Korean War. He was a member of the guard detail overseeing the security and readiness of guided missiles. He served as a commissioner for the Port of Houston for over 20 years. Doug was tireless in his efforts to expand the prominence and success of the Port of Houston and played an early instrumental role in establishing the Port as a major international global hub of commerce. His status as an international businessman and civic leader lead Norway to bestow him with the position of Honorary Consul and he was ultimately Knighted by the King of Norway in 1983. Doug was very social and befriended people of all walks of life. He was member of numerous clubs and organizations including ATO fraternity, Houston Country Club, River Oaks Country Club, The Argyle Club in San Antonio, The Lions Club in Kerrville, Texas, Ducks Unlimited, and Quail Unlimited. He served on the boards of Crime Stoppers and Houston Baptist University.

Doug was the third generation to work for his family business Bay Houston Towing Company. He worked there for 68 years and his efforts to expand and strengthen the company were instrumental in helping it become the largest private harbor towing company on the Gulf Coast. Doug was ambitious, industrious and energetic his entire life and began working as a deck hand on the family tug boats at the early age of 16. As a young man in 1956 he joined the sales department. He was eventually promoted to the head of the Marine Division. Doug was very forward thinking and greatly expanded the international reach and business of Bay Houston Towing Company. He was proudly served as a member of the Board of Directors for over 20 years and eventually became Chairman Emeritus in his later years.

Doug was an outdoorsman and conservationist. He was an avid hunter and pursued many species including deer, antelope, axis, white tail deer and various birds, and traveled the world pursuing game when he wasn’t working or with his family. Doug was an excellent rifle, pistol and shotgun marksman and had extraordinarily sharp eyes and quick reflexes. Doug loved spending time at his family ranches at Chappell Hill and Barksdale Texas.

Ever the gracious host and prizing friendship and tradition as he did Doug experienced great pleasure in hosting his many life-long friends for an annual hunting weekend at the BarD Ranch in Barksdale, Texas for over 20 years. Doug was an avid traveler all of his life and in 1969 he was honored to have a private audience with Pope John Paul VI. In 1973 he traveled with the Apollo 13 astronauts throughout Europe. He was one of the few diplomats that traveled to communist China in 1979.

Doug was preceded in death by his sister, the late Barbara Rhea Haden Neuhaus. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty years, Susan Suttles Haden, his beloved daughter, Frances Haden Alexander and her husband, Benjamin M. Alexander and grandson, Wesley Haden Alexander and his loving step children, Michael David Eyre and wife, Cindy and their children, John Eyre and Madeline Eyre, Allison Eyre McKee and her children, Daniel McKee and James McKee, his niece, Jennifer Kuebler and husband, Mark E. Kuebler, his nephews, John Harris Masterson and wife, Catherine Masterson; Cecil Haden Masterson, Douglas Masterson and his wife, Shelley Masterson. He also leaves behind a special friend and care taker for eight years Barbara Lane and hospice nurse, Betty. He will always be remembered and sorely missed by his family and countless friends too numerous to mention by name.

Honored to serve as casket bearers are Chad Janosky, Gene Autry, Benjamin Alexander, Lewis Scherer II, Harris Masterson and his son, Harris Masterson II. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Wesley Alexander, Lou Scherer, Haden Masterson, Wills Masterson, Douglas Masterson, Philip Kuebler, Mark Kuebler and Michael Eyre.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 20th of June, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 21st of June, at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where The Rev. Douglas W. Richnow, Senior Associate Rector, is to officiate.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Doug’s memory may be directed to Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 541654, Houston, TX 77254-1654; or to the charity of one’s choice.