2018 Marc Yancey

From Bill Robertson

The world has lost a great man in Marc Yancey. He died peacefully November 16th at age 93. He was a conference Champion for the Longhorns in 1950 after serving in WWII. Marc was the co-founder of the Austin Aquatic Club and volunteered many years getting the club established and hosting meets with former Longhorn great Wally Pryor. He has served as WETS director for many years. Carol and I had the pleasure of Marc’s and Alice’s company for 30 years at UT football games. He was the source to corroborate many of the stories I thought might have been myths. He will be missed.

YANCEY Jr., Marcus Ledbetter Jun 28, 1925 Nov 16, 2018 With great sadness, the family of Marcus Ledbetter Yancey, Jr. announces the death of their dearly loved father. Marcus was born June 28, 1925 and passed away on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. Marcus was born and lived his entire life in Austin. He left this world while sleeping peacefully at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House. He had suffered serious injuries this past October in a fall at home. Marcus was 93 years old. At 18 years of age, Marcus enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps. at the outbreak of WWII and was sent to Military Intelligence and Engineering School where he earned a Civil Engineering degree from Georgia Tech University (’44). Marcus then served as a staff intelligence officer in China. In 1947 Marcus returned to Austin and earned a Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Texas at Austin (’50) where he also “lettered” in both Swimming and Baseball. After a brief stint in the private sector, Marcus was recruited as a design engineer in the bridge division of the Texas Highway Department in 1957. In 1967, State Highway Director Dewitt Greer transferred Marcus to his personal staff. Five years later, he was named Assistant Engineer-Director, and in 1980 he became Deputy Executive Director. Known as a person of high integrity, Marcus represented the Department’s interests during 16 legislative sessions under eight governors before retiring from the Department in 1993. Marcus’ leadership was not restricted to engineering and transportation; he was active in a host of civic, sports, and educational activities. A Southwest Conference Swimming Champion, he was a founder and coach of the Austin Aquatic Club for seventeen years and was named Coach of the Year twice by the American Swimming Coaches Association. In 1995, he was inducted into UT’s Swimming Hall of Fame. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, a member of the Executive Board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, on the Board of Directors of the U.T. Longhorn Hall of Honor, Chairman of the Deacon Board of the Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, and Chairman of its Building Committee. Our father was the smartest man we ever knew. We will greatly miss the man who loved to laugh, tell us stories, and quote dates in history. Dad took every opportunity to teach us life lessons that have carried on with us. His love and compassion will forever be in our hearts. The family would like to extend its profound gratitude and appreciation to Marcus’ and Alice’s next-door neighbors John Horn and Cori Hart, as well as their home care provider for 17 years, Diane Gonzales for all of their critical and wonderfully compassionate assistance to both Marcus and his wife Alice in these last years of their lives. Marcus was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Alice Jean Yancey in August of 2017. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Marc and Elaine Yancey, Debbie Estes and Paul Hejl, Janis and Larry Forar, Tenley and C. O. Todd, 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, November 26, 2018 from 12:00pm-2:00pm, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N Lamar Blvd, Austin 78705. A procession will follow the service to Austin Memorial Park Cemetery for the graveside service. Flowers may be sent directly to Weed-Corley Fish Funeral Home listed above. Donations in Marcus’ name can be made to Hospice Austin Christopher House or The University of Texas Athletics. Marcus’ obituary and tributes may be found online at Weed-Corley-Fish (www.wcfish.com)

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