He was born in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas on October 15, 1934, to the late Robert Bailey and Opal (Lyle) Bailey. In 1940, his family moved to Navasota, TX. As a boy, he loved to camp, hunt and fish with his father and older brother, Robert (Bob). Active in Scouting, he was very proud to have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. As a teenager he taught himself the game of golf, the start of a life-long passion.
Charles attended Blinn College from 1951-1952, and then transferred to the University of Texas where he graduated in 1957 with a Business Degree.
There he met Gayle Fread whom he married on October 19, 1957.
He served in the US Army from 1957-1959 — where they were stationed in Munich, Germany — and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant.
After moving to Houston, TX, Charles worked for Tenneco (formerly Tennessee Gas Transmission Co.) from 1959-1982 holding titles ranging from Assistant Secretary to Corporate Vice President during his 23-year tenure. In 1975, he attended the 70th Harvard Advanced Management Program.
Charles was selected for Who's Who in America in 1982.
He helped create Oil Insurance Limited (OIL), a Bermuda-based insurance company and served as President and CEO from 1983-1988. He also helped form Oil Casualty Insurance, Ltd. (OCIL), to insure catastrophe liability and direct and offshore liability risks.
In 1988, he returned to Houston to join J.H. Blades and Co., a surplus lines agency owned by Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, a Lloyd's brokerage firm, which was eventually purchased by AON, the London-based insurance broker. In 1998 he retired.
In 2000, Charlie and Gayle moved to Austin where he got to spend time on his greatest recreational love – golf. Many of his best friends were his golf buddies and he was fortunate to travel and play many notable courses in the US and abroad throughout his life, including several trips to Scotland, where he shot a course record at a links course near Edinburgh. A longtime fan of UT Athletics, he had the pleasure to play with Coach Darrell Royal at Barton Creek Country Club. He was very proud to carry a single digit handicap for a number of years and at age 73 to score a 72 at the course at Barton Creek, Lakeside.
In addition to golf, he enjoyed travel, was an avid history buff — particularly of the Civil War and WWII — and a voracious reader, three loves he shared with his family.
He leaves his wife Gayle; their children, Michele, Craig and Julie; grandchildren, Kyle, Liam, Hannah, Erin and Alec; son-in-laws, Greg Pake and Jim Sekelsky; and sister, Marian.
A private service in celebration of his life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.
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