Rice Remembers Robert Waltrip
3/1/2023 8:12:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Soccer
Lead gift for indoor facility
Obituary
Rice Athletics mourns the passing on Monday of Robert L. Waltrip, founder and chairman of the board of Service Corporation International and the lead donor for the Robert L. Waltrip Indoor Training Center which opened its doors in 2020.
"Bob Waltrip has been a great friend to Rice Athletics," said Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation and Lifetime Fitness Joe Karlgaard. "His kindness, generosity, and shared vision for our indoor training center has made a profound impact on the daily lives of Rice student-athletes. He will be remembered fondly by our community and will forever be a Rice Owl."
"Bob played a transformative role in elevating our program to new heights," Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren said. "He was a great supporter of Rice Athletics and the success of our student-athletes. Our indoor training facility has opened the door for opportunity in many ways, day in and day out. His legacy will continue in the Owl family forever."
Waltrip came to Rice on a football scholarship as a member of the Class of 1953 only to see his dreams of playing for the Owls cut short when the death of his father resulted in his taking over the management of his family's funeral home business.
He began buying additional funeral homes in the 1960s, amassing a network that would grow to include more than 2,100 funeral service locations and cemeteries. He took Service Corporation International public in 1969. It is now North America's largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services.
While he completed his education at the University of Houston, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, his love of Rice Football never diminished. In 2019 his lead gift allowed the dream of an indoor facility to become a reality.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 2 from 5 to 9 pm at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons and a celebration of life will be conducted on Friday (March 3) at 2 pm at Berachah Church, 2815 Sage Road.
Rice Athletics mourns the passing on Monday of Robert L. Waltrip, founder and chairman of the board of Service Corporation International and the lead donor for the Robert L. Waltrip Indoor Training Center which opened its doors in 2020.
"Bob Waltrip has been a great friend to Rice Athletics," said Rice Director of Athletics, Recreation and Lifetime Fitness Joe Karlgaard. "His kindness, generosity, and shared vision for our indoor training center has made a profound impact on the daily lives of Rice student-athletes. He will be remembered fondly by our community and will forever be a Rice Owl."
"Bob played a transformative role in elevating our program to new heights," Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren said. "He was a great supporter of Rice Athletics and the success of our student-athletes. Our indoor training facility has opened the door for opportunity in many ways, day in and day out. His legacy will continue in the Owl family forever."
Waltrip came to Rice on a football scholarship as a member of the Class of 1953 only to see his dreams of playing for the Owls cut short when the death of his father resulted in his taking over the management of his family's funeral home business.
He began buying additional funeral homes in the 1960s, amassing a network that would grow to include more than 2,100 funeral service locations and cemeteries. He took Service Corporation International public in 1969. It is now North America's largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services.
While he completed his education at the University of Houston, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, his love of Rice Football never diminished. In 2019 his lead gift allowed the dream of an indoor facility to become a reality.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 2 from 5 to 9 pm at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons and a celebration of life will be conducted on Friday (March 3) at 2 pm at Berachah Church, 2815 Sage Road.
WBB: Rice vs. Marshall Postgame Presser
Wednesday, March 09
VB: Rice-Texas Postgame Presser
Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02