Obituary of Thomas Bruce Green III

Thomas Bruce Green, Ill was born July 17, 1939 in his grandfather's hospital in Athens, TX. He completed high school in Mabank, TX in 1957 and graduated from North Texas State University. He married Margo Irene Oberkampf on June 19, 1961. He reported to the U.S. Navy Officer's Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island in July 1961. After completing OCS, Tom attended the U.S. Navy Deep Sea Diving School in Washington, DC. Tom served on the U.S.S. Cree, a sea going salvage vessel, which served in the Vietnam theater in 1962 as well as patrolling the entrance to the Panama Canal during the Cuban missile crisis in 1963. Tom later served as Diving Repair Officer, First Lieutenant, Gunnery Officer and Navigator on the U.S.S. Piedmont where he faced many dangerous assignments and knew no fear. Tom received hazardous duty pay his entire Naval career. Tom completed his six years of active-duty service in Key West, Florida as Training Officer of the U.S. Naval School for Underwater Swimmers where most of the U.S. military divers were trained for duty in Vietnam, including UDT, EOD and some of the first S.E.A.L. team members. It was here in Key West where his beloved daughter, Holly, was born.

Beginning in 1966 through 1980, Tom worked in the retail business as Operating Manager with two different department stores after which he was co-owner with his father in the family grocery business which was established by his grandfather in the 1890's. Beginning in 1981 Tom established himself in the insurance business, later co-owning an insurance company. After selling his interest in the insurance company,

he worked for the Texas State Department of Insurance as an on-site manager for the Receiver and later the Conservator until his retirement in 1999.

Tom was active in both the Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) He was founding president of the Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels Chapter #50 SRT Chapter and also served as Hill Country District Representative. He was inducted as a Knight of the Order of San Jacinto in 2006. Tom was named Texan of the Year by the San Jacinto Descendants Society in 2005.Tom served as Texas state president of the Sons of the American Revolution in 2007. He was awarded the National Merit Award by the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge in 2007 and in 2016, he was awarded the San Jacinto Star award by the San

Jacinto SRT Chapter. Tom was appointed a Colonel in the Texas Army in 2006 and was also appointed an Admiral in the Texas Navy by Governor Perry in 2006. In 2012 Tom was awarded the George Washington Distinguished Service Award by the Paul Carrington SAR Chapter and named the National Color Guardsman of the Year by the National Society Sons of the American Revolution. Tom received the Sons of the Republic of Texas highest award, The Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Tom was also a member of the General Society of the War of 1812, The American Legion and the North American Vexillological Association (the study of flags). He collected or made over 75 historic flags of both the American Revolutionary and the Texas Revolutionary periods and has given more than 750 Historic Flag Programs. His greatest joy was presenting flag programs to over 30,000 school children from Texas to Indiana. His flag collection will be donated to the Brazoria Historical Museum in Angleton TX and The Texas SAR.

In addition to Tom's career and hobbies, he was a devoted spouse, father and grandfather. He was most proud of "his Girls" as he fondly called the three of us. He attended many soccer and tennis events for his beloved granddaughter and enjoyed picking her up early from day care and school to spend time with her. One of his proudest days was when he held Alicia for the first time, and she became a U.S. citizen!

Tom was an avid story and joke teller and his many family and friends would request him to tell their favorite stories and jokes, which he always made more interesting with a Texas flair for exaggeration. He would always be the last one at an event or dinner talking and entertaining his family and friends. He was a Texan through and through! He made friends everywhere he went. People loved him and he will be dearly missed by his family and friends

The family deeply appreciates all the support and love from friends and family during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you share your memories of Tom on this memorial website, and please consider a donation to Pearland First United Methodist Church 2314 N. Grand Blvd, Pearland TX 77581, The American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.

Son-Brother-Husband-Father, Father-in-Law, Grandfather, Uncle, Friend-Christian1Historian-Lecturer

Memberships: Pearland First United Methodist Church,

Lieutenant US Navy, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Sons of the American Revolution, and Society of 1812, Colonel Texas Army, Admiral Texas Navy, Knight of San Jacinto

Recipient of the 69th George Washington Distinguished Service Award Past State President Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution

Survived by Wife, Margo, Daughter Holly Childs, Son-in-Law Brian Childs and Granddaughter Alicia Vanesa Childs