The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF PATRICK CUNNINGHAM OXFORD
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of my friend, Patrick Cunningham Oxford, of Houston, Texas. He passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at the age of 79.
Patrick was born in Beaumont, Texas, to Hubert and Virginia Oxford. He attended Catholic school in Beaumont, graduating from St. Anthony's Catholic High School. Patrick grew up playing football and baseball and working for his father's business, Oxford Building Material, LLC. As he got older, Patrick's love of baseball never faded. His friends and family cherished his knowledge of the game, its history, and his ability to make analogies of many situations in life or business to the game of baseball.
Patrick and I attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with honors in 1966 and a law degree with honors in 1967. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Texas Cowboys, an honorary student organization. While in law school, Patrick was the Managing Editor of the Texas Law Review and a member of the Friar Society. In 1997, he was appointed to serve on the Board of Regents for the University of Texas System for a six-year term. He also chaired the Health Affairs Committee, which oversaw the operations of six health institutions within the University of Texas System.
In 1973, Patrick joined the firm of Bracewell & Patterson, now known as Bracewell LLP, and immediately became its 13th partner. He specialized in business and transactional law at the firm, focusing on real estate, energy, and banking. Later, Patrick served as Managing Partner and led the opening of the firm's New York City office. Patrick took great pride and interest in recruiting and mentoring young lawyers at the firm; he genuinely cared and was a brilliant attorney who loved to share his passion for the law with others.
Patrick believed that Houston's business leaders had an obligation to further the city's success. He took an active role in many civic and business organizations, including Chairman, the Greater Houston Partnership; Director, M.D. Anderson Services Corporation; Chairman Emeritus, Texas Medical Center, Inc.; Advisory Board Member, Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University; and Board Member, the Kinder Institute for Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri.
Patrick believed deeply in the ideals outlined by our Founding Fathers and in our constitutional system. He spent hours assisting candidates he believed would improve the city, state, and country. In fact, Patrick twice served as chairman of the campaign committee for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and was a leader in the gubernatorial and presidential campaigns of George W. Bush. He also served as counsel for many statewide and local officeholders in Texas.
Patrick was a man of deep faith. He attended Mass daily at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Houston and served as a Eucharistic Minister and Continuing Catholic Education (CCE) teacher. He also contributed to the educational and service ministries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-
Houston.
Patrick is survived by his wife of 32 years, Katie Oxford; his daughters, Elizabeth Pagan and Virginia Fleming; his sons-in-law, Greer Pagan and Lee Fleming; his grandson, Charlie Pagan; his brothers, Hubert Oxford III and Denis Oxford; his sister, Virginia Thompson; his sister-in-law, Canice Garth and her husband, David; his brothers-in-
law, Kit Herrington and Tommy Herrington; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Patrick is preceded in death by his parents, Hubert and Virginia, and sister, Mary Englander.
Madam Speaker, it is a special privilege to honor my dear friend, Patrick Cunningham Oxford, who devoted his life to serving others. The Houston community will not forget him or his significant impact on the city, and my heartfelt prayers remain with his family and friends during this difficult time.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 37
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