John A. Moss

John Arthur Moss, a true individualist, went home to the Lord and his beloved wife Margaret on Friday May 25, 2012. He is remembered by those who loved him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

John and his wife of 67 years, Kathleen Margaret Moss, met on a blind date. After a whirlwind courtship, the two eloped to Seguin, Texas and were married when they were just 18 years of age. John remarked that Margaret was a once-in-a-lifetime woman whom he refused to let slip away.

When World War II came along, John joined the Navy while his pregnant wife and 3 year old daughter Margaret lived in Dilley, Texas with family. Their second child, John Moss Jr., was born in Dilley during the war. John had volunteered and was accepted for service on PT Boats; however, the Navy needed his accounting talents.

The Navy Department sent John to Chicago, where he did cost auditing for projects like the A-bomb research at the University of Chicago, and at Motorola Corporation for the instruments that brought B-29s back to base when they had dropped their payload. He also did cost auditing for several other corporations within the Chicago area that had Naval contracts such as the Elgin Watch Company, which created the timers for the torpedoes carried on U.S. submarines.

After the war, John and Margaret were reunited and moved to Dallas for a period of time, where they would have their third child Ann. John qualified to get his public accounting certificate, which he held for over 60 years. The young family moved to San Angelo, where John opened an accounting practice. With an investment group, he designed a project known as the "San Angelo Plan." He designed blueprints for homes that could be constructed and built for $3,000. These homes were built all over the country and internationally during the post-war building boom.

When the great drought of the 1950's hit West Texas, the Moss family made their final move to Austin. John became president of Republic Acceptance Corporation, and was traveling so extensively that he bought and learned how to fly his first airplane. His first cross-country solo flight was from Austin to Canada.

In the mid-60s, John purchased the new development of Lago Vista on Lake Travis. He developed the project for a number of years until he sold it to National Homes Corporation of Indiana.

In the early 80's, personal computers were just beginning to be bought by businessmen. John was not pleased with the accounting software available. He decided that he could create an accounting program for personal computers better than anything on the market. This was before Microsoft, so every brand of computer had its own operating system. John founded BPI Inc. to create accounting software for the personal computing market.

Soon, BPI's accounting software was being licensed to Apple, Commodore, and others. IBM soon became interested in BPI's software. The IBM PC was not on the market yet and was a closely-held secret. IBM sent to BPI five of the first PCs off of the assembly line in disguised boxes accompanied by armed guards, and an agreement was made for BPI to create IBMs business software. In 1982, BPI went public, becoming the first computer software manufacturer to go public in the United States. John's search for better accounting software had led to an unprecedented national success.

John then retired from BPI, and commissioned a yacht that was based at Rockport and featured in Yachting Magazine. After crossing the Gulf of Mexico, the boat was permanently berthed at the Ocean Reef Club in Florida.

In 1990, he and Margaret began their last and greatest project together; restoration of the historic home Sweetbrush. Margaret and John particularly enjoyed opening their home on many occasions for various philanthropic and civic events. Margaret had once opined that she and John were "merely the stewards of Sweetbrush," and thus sought to share their treasured home with the greater Austin community. The many family gatherings at Sweetbrush, including numerous birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are fond memories of their family to this day.

John is preceded in death by his beloved wife Margaret, with whom he shared 67 wonderful years. He is survived by his three children and their spouses: Dr. Margaret and Dr. Taft Moore of Grand Junction, Colorado; John and Pebble Moss of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Ann and John Pieratt of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren and their spouses: Cindy and John McCarthy of Louisville, Kentucky; William Pieratt Demond of Austin, Texas; John Moss Pieratt and his wife Jessica of Houston, Texas; Robert Wilson Pieratt and his wife Kathleen of Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his adored great-granddaughters: Austin Kennedy McCarthy, Margaret Eloise McCarthy, and Charlotte Jane McCarthy of Louisville, Kentucky.

He is also survived by his two sisters, Frances McGraw of Dallas, Texas and Doris Ann Spell of Jackson, Mississippi.

Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery on Sunday, May 27th 2012, in a private graveside service.

Pallbearers will be his son, John Moss Jr., sons-in-law John D. Pieratt and Dr. Taft Moore, grandsons William Pieratt Demond, John Moss Pieratt, Robert Wilson Pieratt, grandson-in-law John McCarthy, and Robert W. Jenkins, Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christopher House at 2820 East Martin Luther King Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78702.