Stanley James Briers

Stanley James Briers

Son, brother, husband, father, hunter, racer, plumber, pilot, leader, go-getter

Stanley James Briers passed away peacefully at his home on October 10th, 2022.

Married to Carrolyn for over 33 years.

Preceded in death by his father, Harry James, mother, Mary Magdalen Niscavits and son Brandon Miles Smith.

As of the publication of this obituary, he was father to Dorothy Kolkhorst Schaer (John Jr.), Latane Lamb, Tipton Ross (Elizabeth), Harry James Briers (Lisa), Kimberly Briers-Moore (Raymond), Kelly Hanse (Patrick) and Tammy Fuselier (Brice). Grandfather to 17 and Great Grandfather to 5.

Stanley’s greatest passion was spending time with his family. His mother, Mary, was from a family of 10 children and Stanley was from a family of 8 children. He had 3 brothers and 4 sisters so there were always many relatives around when he did anything. Whether it was going to one of his deer leases or hosting the family Christmas party, Easter picnic or spending time at the drag strip running his ’57 Chevy there were numerous opportunities he created to be together. But often, it was just as simple as him saying, “Y’all come on down and I will cook a brisket and we can watch football or a race on TV.”

He was an extremely generous man and he derived much joy from his giving. He gave his time and treasure to people, organizations and causes he loved and cared about. Many relatives and friends worked for him. He helped many in obtaining internships and employment through his vast network of relationships. For many Christmases he and Carrolyn made sure everyone in attendance at the Briers family Christmas party (over 150 guests) received a gift bought just for them. From his early 20’s until his passing he joined and led many trade associations. He also served on many governmental councils and boards dealing with the construction industry. He was elected as precinct chair and served as an election judge for over 25 years. He held fundraisers, donated and worked for many political candidates at all levels of government.

Stanley was born in 1936 in Houston Texas and attended St Peter the Apostle Catholic grade school and St. Thomas and St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, MS) high schools. When he graduated from St. Stanislaus in 1955, he was awarded the Character Cup. As quoted by The Seacoast Echo, “The Character Cup is presented to a student who has taken responsibility for his own holistic education and who had contributed by word and example to the creation of a healthy environment for his peers. In addition to qualities such as honesty, integrity, dependability and courage, a Character Cup recipient is also a young man who takes the Gospel mandate to serve others to heart.”

After high school, he attended Tulane University and the University of Houston. He majored in beer drinking, chasing girls and racing cars. In 1959, he was racing his self-built dragster at Houston International Speedway, near Dickinson, Texas when a chain on his supercharger broke and cut into the fuel line and resulted in a fire. Stanley’s seat belt was not quick release and if his brother, Raymond, had not cut him out of the car he would have perished. He spent three months in the hospital recovering from his burns.

Professional Career

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy hired him for 2 years to be part of the US Army. He was discharged as an E-5 and was awarded solider of the month 6 times.

In 1963, he returned to Houston and started his career in the trades. He started his own company and provided air conditioning, electrical and plumbing services. He provided infrared heaters, industrial and commercial plumbing, process piping, millwright, structural steel and home standby generators. During his peak, he employed over 300 people.

During his career he earned and held the following licenses:

• Master Plumber License #1 with Master Medical Gas endorsement
• Air Conditioning Contractor State of Texas #131
• Air Conditioning Contractor City of Houston #577
• Railroad Commission of Texas LPG License #6178
• Texas Department of Health Septic Tank Registration #60

He was a member of following boards and trade associations:

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) TSBPE mission is to help protect the health and safety of the citizens of the State of Texas by ensuring that our drinking water, air, and medical gases are free from contaminants so that we may live and work in the safe conditions that properly designed and installed plumbing systems are meant to provide. Our primary influence in fulfilling this mission is ensuring that individuals entrusted with a license issued by the Board and endowed with the inherent credibility it provides, are competent and exhibit the requisite fitness to perform plumbing work in this state. He was appointed by three different Texas Governors to the TSBPE. He served for a total of His major accomplishment was enacting the Medical Gas Endorsement requirement which changed the way gas piping systems at health care facilities were designed, installed and the training given to the plumbers for these systems. Before this law, some medical gas systems installers did not clean the piping system after installation or placed air intakes close to carbon dioxide sources leading to illnesses and deaths.

Notable Roles

• Chairman for 10 of the 16 years he served on the board

After retiring from the board, Stanley worked until his final days to improve and promote the plumbing industry in Texas. Significant accomplishments were improving residential fire protection systems and preventing the abolishment of the TSBPE. To see a speech Stanley gave at the Texas State Capitol June 17th, 2019 supporting the TSBPE click here or go this link https://youtu.be/9BcYzH9CwLk .

Construction Industry Council (CIC) The CIC creates and reviews the building code for the City of Houston. CIC adopted a fee schedule designed to give the City of Houston a first-class Building Department for Code Administration and enforcement that would be entirely funded by permit fees and license fees and would not require general taxation for its funding Since its inception, the CIC has provided, without cost to the City of Houston or its taxpayers, millions of dollars’ worth of talent from within its member industry and professional organizations. Along with many other dynamic and progressive happenings that made the City of Houston the envy and inspiration of most of the nation, the CIC. has gained recognition and admiration from code and regulatory groups throughout the country. Stanley was appointed by three different mayors of the City of Houston to the CIC.

Notable Roles

• Elected to Board of Directors
• Elected President
• Elected Vice President
• Chairman of Plumbing Code Committee
• Chairman of Fire Protection Committee

Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (PHCC) PHCC provides legislative advocacy, education and training to approximately 3,300 plumbing and HVACR open shop and union businesses and 65,000 technicians. Our members work in the residential, commercial, new construction, industrial and service and repair segments of the construction industry.

Notable Roles

• Elected to National Board of Directors for two terms
• Chairman of the National Apprenticeship Committee
• National Convention Chairman hosted 3-day convention in Houston with over 5,000 attendees
• Elected to State of Texas Vice President
• Elected to State of Texas Secretary
• Elected to Harris County Board of Directors
• Elected to Harris County President
• Elected to Harris County Vice President
• Chairman of the Harris County Political Action Committee

Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC) ABC is a national construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 members. Based on the merit shop philosophy, we help our members develop people, win work and deliver work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.

Notable Roles

• Elected to Greater Houston Board of Directors for two terms
• Chairman of the Greater Houston Political Action Committee
• Member of Greater Houston Apprenticeship Committee

Political Activity

Stanley was a strong conservative believing in God, country and family. In the 1960’s was a Democrat precinct chairman (#223), election judge and county and state convention delegate. In the 1970’s the party left him and he became a Republican and served as a senatorial district chairman, precinct chairman, election judge and county and state convention delegate. He also served on the Harris County Finance committee with his son, Harry. Stanley supported national, state, county and local candidates by contributing financially, organizing and implementing fundraisers, and putting out signs and phone banking. In fact, in the 1970’s, Stanley hosted a fundraiser and coffee in his home for a first-time congressional candidate Ron Paul.

Interests

Racing. Stanley raced both cars and boats in his life from his Mom’s 1951 Hudson Hornet to his ’57 Chevy to his dragster to his El Camino’s with a big block Chevrolet engine and finally to his 8 second ’57 Chevy NHRA drag car driven by his youngest brother John. Stanley enjoyed racing and all it involved. He had a suite at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas to watch drag races. He never missed the Indianapolis 500 even when he had to go to the movie theater to watch the closed-circuit TV broadcast. He had tickets to the 500 since 1977 and took many family members and friends for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. When he couldn’t make the race, everyone would gather at his house to watch it, try their luck in the winner pool and eat some barbeque brisket he made (Franklin’s BBQ had nothing on Stanley’s brisket).

Hunting. From hunting with his Dad and brother Raymond in the 1940’s to put food on the table to hunting with his Mom in the 2000’s (she was in her 90’s) for the sport of it. He had deer leases in Madisonville, Rocksprings, Del Rio and halfway between Del Rio and Sonora Texas. He had a Jeep that he bought brand new (standard shift) and he put over 6,000 miles on it having never touched a paved road. His favorite activity was riding around checking out the wildlife while one of his grandchildren drove the jeep, opened and closed the gates and got beer and beef jerky from the cooler for him Although, truth be told, he was not so happy when they wrecked his jeep by running it into a large rock or tree (you know who you are Tyler, Zachary). Many family members got their first deer at one of his leases.

Flying. He was a multiengine instrument rated pilot and owned a Cessna 185 tail dragger, Piper Aztec and Cessna 310. He logged over 3,000 hours of multiengine flying.

Common thread to all these activities it allowed him to have fellowship with friends and family for many days.

He was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the National Rifle Association and National Hot Rod Association. He also was member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

Fun facts: He was a master checker player we are not sure if anyone ever beat him. He didn’t like music, he never listend to it, instead “We jammed to talk radio.”

Funeral Plans

Please click here or go https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/SJB/ to see the online memorial to Stanley. There you can find the obituary, funeral plans with time, location, maps and the ability to RSVP for each event, a donation link to St. Stanislaus, family tree and movies and pictures of Stanley.

Viewing, Vigil, Rosary and Eulogies:

Tuesday, October 18th 6:00 PM

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

18223 Point Lookout Dr.

Nassau Bay, TX 77058

Funeral Mass:

Wednesday, October 19th 10:00 AM

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

18223 Point Lookout Dr.

Nassau Bay, TX 77058

Burial:

Wednesday, October 19th 1:15 PM

National Cemetery

10410 Veterans Memorial Dr,

Houston, TX 77038

Reception:

After the burial

Brice and Tammy Fuselier’s home

9500 Ocean Dr.

Beach City TX 77523.

All are welcome. BBQ and drinks will be served.

Please try to RSVP by Sunday, October 16th, 2022 Please click here or go https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/SJB/ Events

Flowers and Giving

We are only allowed to take four pieces to the cemetery. Please consider donating to St. Stanislaus. Established in 1854, Saint Stanislaus is a Catholic boarding and day school for boys and young men in grades 7-12 located in Bay St. Louis, MS. Please click here or go https://ststan.com/giving/donate/ to donate in honor of Stanley. You can also mail a check, make it payable to SSC Progression Corporation and mail to:

SSC Progression Corporation

Attn: Brian Murphy, Director of Advancement

304 S Beach Blvd

Bay St. Louis, MS 39520

or by phone Contact Brian Murphy, Director of Advancement at (228) 467-9057 x 255.

Heritage Film

In 2019 Heritage Films made a movie about Stanley. It is over 2 hours long so get your Coke, popcorn and Raisinets. You can access it here or at the following link https://www.dropbox.com/s/9m4dpu9v32buagp/2019 Stanley Briers Heritage Film.mp4?dl=0