Martin Lewis Allday

ALLDAY, MARTIN LEWIS (1926 ~ 2008). The following is an obituary for Martin Lewis Allday, first Chairman of the Texas State Cemetery Committee and former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee. The obituary was published in the December 9, 2008 edition of the Austin American Statesman.

"The Honorable Martin Lewis Allday, Junior died Monday, December 8, 2008 in Austin, Texas. He was 82 years old. Allday was born May 30, 1926 in El Dorado, Arkansas. His parents were Martin Lewis Allday, Senior and Bess Kavanaugh Allday. Martin Allday grew up in Austin, Texas from the age of 9 where he attended Austin schools and graduated from Schreiner Institute in Kerrville, Texas in 1943.

Serving in World War II with the 96th Infantry, Allday was wounded in Okinawa May 10th, 1945. He received the Purple Heart and was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war he attended the University of Texas and graduated from law school in 1951. He was a Legal Examiner for the Texas Railroad Commission, where he conducted oil and gas hearings. In 1953 he joined the Legal Department of The Superior Oil Company in Midland. Allday married the former Patricia Pryor of Midland on May 1, 1954. He was a member of the Midland law firm of Lynch, Chappell, Allday and Alsup from 1959-1989 and was the firm's managing partner for 15 years.

Allday valued his friendship with former President George H.W. Bush whom he met while courting Patricia. He was Bush's State campaign chairman in 1964 in the statewide race for the US Senate. Allday later was appointed and served as the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, DC from 1989 until 1993. Following his term, he returned to Austin, where he was Of Counsel with the law firm of Scott, Douglass and McConnico until retirement in July 2007. In October of 1997, Texas Governor George W. Bush appointed Mr. Allday as Chairman of the Texas State Cemetery Committee.

Allday was active in Midland community and civic affairs having served as the President of the Jaycees, President of the Midland Chamber of Commerce and its Industrial Foundation, President of the Midland County Bar Association, President of the Midland Country Club, and Chairman of the Mineral Section of the State Bar of Texas. Additionally, he served as a Trustee of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Trustee and then Governor of the Midland Memorial Hospital Foundation and the High Sky Children's Ranch. Mr. Allday also served as a Director of the National Parks Foundation.

Surviving Allday is his wife Patricia of 54 years; his three children, Katherine Allday Timberlake and husband Trent of San Antonio, Elizabeth (Betsy) Allday Knowles, and husband Mark of Austin, and Martin Lewis Allday III, and wife Devera of Houston. Grandchildren are Sarah Timberlake Halbach, and husband Ben of Austin, Henry William Timberlake of San Antonio, Douglas Jackson Dashiell Jr, and wife Stephanie of Del Rio, Caroline Pryor Dashiell amd Kellie Katherine Dashiell. of Austin; Austin Kavanaugh Allday and Travis Martin Allday of Houston, Justin Knowles of Lubbock and Lindsey Knowles Woo and husband Jake of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by his sister Lyn Allday McCanlies.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 10 from 4-7pm at Weed-Corley-Fish 3125 N. Lamar. Public graveside services will be on Thursday, December 11 at 1:00pm at the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota. Memorial service and reception to follow on Thursday, December 11, at 3:00 pm at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Road with The Rev. Kelly Koonce and The Rev. Roland Timberlake officiating.

Pallbearers will be Tim Thompson, Bo Baskin, Jim Alsup, John Turner, Marvin Stetler, Jim Moore, Wilbur Yeager, Watt Harris, Walter Hall, Former President George H.W. Bush, Dr. Earl Grant, John Soule, Howard Shafferman, Bill Scherman, and David Grimes.

Memorials may be directed to The American Red Cross, 2218 Pershing Drive, Austin, TX 78723 or to the Friends of the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota, Austin, TX 78702 or to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. BOX 5176, Austin, TX 78763."

Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery Committee.