Richard C Webb

Richard Clark “Rit” Webb, 91, of Bellville, Texas passed away Oct. 8, 2024. He was born in New Gulf, TX on June 12, 1933 to Harry Charles Webb and Ruth Brown Webb. He moved with his family to Houston in 1935 where he grew up. With his family, he enjoyed duck, dove, deer, and quail hunting.

He attended Edgar Allan Poe Elementary, Sidney Lanier Jr. High, and Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston, TX. In high school he served as VP of his Sophomore class, President of his Junior class, and President of his Senior class of 1951. He was a Baseball letterman for 3 years and Captain of the team his Senior year.

He obtained his BBA in Finance from the University of Texas in 1955. While attending University, he was a member of the Texas Cowboys, served as President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, member of the T Association, and played for the Longhorn baseball team with whom he participated in the College World Series in 1953. He also completed the Wharton Institute of Investment Banking in Philadelphia, PA.

In October, 1955, he married Sara Ann Slaton in Dallas, Texas and together they raised three children, Karen, Janice, and Clark. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, golfing, and skiing being his favorites.

Rit proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in 1956, Flight Training in Pensacola in 1956-1957, Advanced Training in Hutchinson, KS in 1957 and awarded wings as Naval Aviator in September, 1957. He was assigned to Barbers Point, Hawaii, deployed to Kodiak, Alaska, and honorably discharged in December of 1959. He served in the Naval Reserves from 1960 - 1963. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant.

Mr. Webb entered the Securities Industry as a Registered Representative in December, 1959 with Underwood Neuhaus in Houston. He served as V.P. and Branch Office Manager of Goodbody & Co. from October 1960 - January, 1971, and Senior V.P. and Director of Rotan Mosle, Inc. from January 1971 - June 1981. He co-founded the Houston, TX Investment Bank, Lovett Mitchell Webb & Garrison in 1981 which later became Lovett Underwood Neuhaus and Webb as a result of a purchase by Kemper Financial Services. From 1991 - 1994, he was Regional Partner of S.G. Cowen Securities. He co-founded Harris Webb and Garrison in 1994 where he served as President and Director. Harris Webb and Garrison merged with Sanders Morris Munday in 1999 where he was Vice-Chairman of the combined Sanders Morris Harris. He was a founding partner of AWDB Capital in 2005 where he was a Managing Director.

Mr. Webb served as President of River Oaks Country Club. He was a member of the NASD District 6 Business Conduct Committee, Founding President of the Houston Options Society, Investment Committee for the University of Texas Ex-Student Association, Chairman, Director, & Member of Investment Committee of Pinnacle Management & Trust, Director of Benchmark Electronics (NYSE), Director of Q Companies/Key Energy Services (NYSE), Director of Weatherford International (NYSE), Director of Kent Electronics (NYSE), Chairman of Remote Knowledge, Bulletin Board Telematics, Director of Kirby Corp (NYSE).

Rit joined St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston in 1960 where he served on the Vestry for 2 terms. His lifelong passion for service led him to hold positions of leadership in his community. He served terms of Chairman and Director of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, President of the Board of the Chinquapin School, President and Board of Trustees of St. James House - Baytown, Board of Trustees at St. Luke’s Hospital, and Director of the Bellville General Hospital Foundation.

Rit married Margaret Ann (Maggie) in May, 1993. Mr. Webb was preceded in death by his father, Harry Charles Webb, mother, Ruth Brown Webb, and son, Richard Clark Webb, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Maggie, his brother, Harry, his daughters, Karen Paulson and Janice Lavin, his step-daughter, Holly Harrison, his sons-in-law, Richard Paulson, Buddy Lavin, and James Harrison, his grandchildren, Kim, Eric, and Lisa, his step-grandchildren, Ellie and Wynn, 7 great grandchildren, and six nieces and nephews. He loved his family and was joyous, grateful, and caring. His generous and kind nature will be missed by all of us.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on October 17, 2024 at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Chinquapin School (chinquapin.org), The Houston Museum of Natural Science (hmns.org), St. Martin’s Church (stmartinsepiscopal.org), Houston, or Bellville Hospital Foundation (bellvillemidcoasthospital.org) would serve as a great honor.