Albert Down Bourland

April 7, 1927 ~ April 7, 2013
ALBERT DOWNS BOURLAND, JR.
Albert Downs Bourland, Jr., 85, of Vienna, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013.
Bourland was born in Haynesville, Louisiana on July 30, 1927. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Haynesville High School in 1944. He attended Texas A&M University briefly before leaving school to enlist in the United States Navy at the age of 17. After World War II he entered Louisiana Tech, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1950. A member of Lambda Chi Fraternity, Bourland was active in the Boxing Club.
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, Bourland began a career with General Motors that would last 36 years and take him from Louisiana (Ruston and Alexandria) to Texas (Houston, San Antonio, and Lufkin), to the GM Building in New York, New York, and eventually, to the Industry Government Relations Office of General Motors in Washington, DC, which he helped open in 1966. In the 1970's, while working for General Motors, he was instrumental in coordinating meetings between General Motors executives and state officials from Louisiana, including Congressman Joe D. Waggonner and Senators Russell Long and J. Bennett Johnston, to secure the truck plant in Shreveport, Louisiana. The industrial park in Caddo Parish where that plant is located still today has a street named "Al Bourland Drive" in recognition of his efforts to bring the plant to Shreveport.
During his GM career, he attended night school at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, where he was elected the President of the Samuel Houston Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He was a member of the Texas State Bar and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
In New York, Bourland served as the Senior Staff Assistant with the General Motors insurance subsidiary, which was headquartered in New York. While in the New York office, Bourland served on the Borough of Montvale, New Jersey Board of Education for two terms.
Bourland concluded his service with General Motors with eighteen years in the Washington office, including several years as the Senior Washington Representative and Manager of Federal Consumer Affairs. He served often as a speaker, writer and commentator on congressional issues.
Following General Motors, Bourland served for six years as the Vice President of Congressional Relations of the United States Chamber of Commerce, where he directed the legislative action and political action departments and where he administered the Chamber's public affairs activities. His breakfast series "The Breakfast Bunch" brought together congressional and business leaders for a popular monthly speaking series.
Bourland concluded his career in 1996 finishing 6 years of service as President of Daimler-Benz of Washington, Inc. He also served on the Board of Daimler-Benz Aerospace, a group company of Daimler-Benz AG of Stuttgart, Germany.
Bourland served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the European Institute, and the European American Chamber of Commerce.
In 2006 Bourland received the Louisiana Tech Tower Medallion, which is the highest honor that may be granted to an alumnus of the university, and induction into the Louisiana Tech Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The Board of Governors of Beta Gamma Sigma recognized Bourland as an Honoree of the Beta Gamma Si Chapter of Louisiana Tech University in 2002. He was included in the 2006-2007 Global Register of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.
Bourland was the founding president of the Barristers Place Home Owners Association in Vienna, Virginia, where he and his wife, Liz, have lived since 1969.
Bourland is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Hazel Elizabeth Bourland, of Ruston, Louisiana; son Bill, who practices law and resides with his wife Angela in Martinsville, Virginia; daughter Janet and her husband Dr. William O'Donnell of Clifton, Virginia; and daughter Allison and her husband Jeff Mitchell of Blacksburg, Virginia. He also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew Bourland and Bryce Bourland of Martinsville, Virginia; Ryan O'Donnell of Alexandria, Virginia; Erin O'Donnell of Clifton, Virginia and Elizabeth Grace Mitchell of Blacksburg, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Down Bourland Sr. and Janie Dunn Bourland, both of Haynesville, Louisiana; and his grandson, Andrew Evan Bourland, of Martinsville, Virginia.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Albert Downs Bourland, Jr., 85, of Vienna, Virginia, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013.
Bourland was born in Haynesville, Louisiana on July 30, 1927. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Haynesville High School in 1944. He attended Texas A&M University briefly before leaving school to enlist in the United States Navy at the age of 17. After World War II he entered Louisiana Tech, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1950. A member of Lambda Chi Fraternity, Bourland was active in the Boxing Club.
After graduating from Louisiana Tech, Bourland began a career with General Motors that would last 36 years and take him from Louisiana (Ruston and Alexandria) to Texas (Houston, San Antonio, and Lufkin), to the GM Building in New York, New York, and eventually, to the Industry Government Relations Office of General Motors in Washington, DC, which he helped open in 1966. In the 1970's, while working for General Motors, he was instrumental in coordinating meetings between General Motors executives and state officials from Louisiana, including Congressman Joe D. Waggonner and Senators Russell Long and J. Bennett Johnston, to secure the truck plant in Shreveport, Louisiana. The industrial park in Caddo Parish where that plant is located still today has a street named "Al Bourland Drive" in recognition of his efforts to bring the plant to Shreveport.
During his GM career, he attended night school at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, where he was elected the President of the Samuel Houston Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He was a member of the Texas State Bar and was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
In New York, Bourland served as the Senior Staff Assistant with the General Motors insurance subsidiary, which was headquartered in New York. While in the New York office, Bourland served on the Borough of Montvale, New Jersey Board of Education for two terms.
Bourland concluded his service with General Motors with eighteen years in the Washington office, including several years as the Senior Washington Representative and Manager of Federal Consumer Affairs. He served often as a speaker, writer and commentator on congressional issues.
Following General Motors, Bourland served for six years as the Vice President of Congressional Relations of the United States Chamber of Commerce, where he directed the legislative action and political action departments and where he administered the Chamber's public affairs activities. His breakfast series "The Breakfast Bunch" brought together congressional and business leaders for a popular monthly speaking series.
Bourland concluded his career in 1996 finishing 6 years of service as President of Daimler-Benz of Washington, Inc. He also served on the Board of Daimler-Benz Aerospace, a group company of Daimler-Benz AG of Stuttgart, Germany.
Bourland served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the European Institute, and the European American Chamber of Commerce.
In 2006 Bourland received the Louisiana Tech Tower Medallion, which is the highest honor that may be granted to an alumnus of the university, and induction into the Louisiana Tech Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The Board of Governors of Beta Gamma Sigma recognized Bourland as an Honoree of the Beta Gamma Si Chapter of Louisiana Tech University in 2002. He was included in the 2006-2007 Global Register of Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.
Bourland was the founding president of the Barristers Place Home Owners Association in Vienna, Virginia, where he and his wife, Liz, have lived since 1969.
Bourland is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 63 years, Hazel Elizabeth Bourland, of Ruston, Louisiana; son Bill, who practices law and resides with his wife Angela in Martinsville, Virginia; daughter Janet and her husband Dr. William O'Donnell of Clifton, Virginia; and daughter Allison and her husband Jeff Mitchell of Blacksburg, Virginia. He also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew Bourland and Bryce Bourland of Martinsville, Virginia; Ryan O'Donnell of Alexandria, Virginia; Erin O'Donnell of Clifton, Virginia and Elizabeth Grace Mitchell of Blacksburg, Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Down Bourland Sr. and Janie Dunn Bourland, both of Haynesville, Louisiana; and his grandson, Andrew Evan Bourland, of Martinsville, Virginia.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Dear Liz and family members, We are so very sorry to hear of your loss. Al was a good man and we enjoyed our short time as your neighbors. Our prayers and thoughts are with you through this time. Mark & Karen
Al Bourland hired me at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1986 and was my mentor for the following four years. He must have done a fine job as I am still there! Al was a delightful man to work for and I loved listening to his many DC stories all told with great Southern charm. Al was a gentleman of the old school with impeccable manners and good taste. He taught this Oregon country boy how to dress with style and for success in DC. He worked hard and encouraged all of us to strive toward our potential and our highest goals. He kept an open door policy and always made time for anyone to chat with him. His wise counsel was always free of charge. I am grateful to have worked for him. He will be missed.
Al was one of the first people I met when I joined the U. S. Chamber in 1988. He advised me on how to work in this new environment. He was a true gentleman and good friend. My prayers are offered up for his family.
Liz: I send you my sincere condolences. You had a lovely husband; such a gentle man. He was a delightful dinner companion and great company (maybe because we came from opposite sides of the political spectrum). I’m going to miss seeing Al.
Janet and Family, I am really sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. May his memories carry your through the years filling your heart with joy and laughter. Patty Payne JMHS Classmate