> On May 21, 2019, at 11:00 AM, [email protected] wrote: > > Send Texascavers mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Texascavers digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Don Broussard passed away (William R. Elliott) > 2. Re: Don Broussard passed away (Bill Steele) > 3. Re: Don Broussard passed away (William R. Elliott) > 4. Re: Don Broussard passed away ([email protected]) > 5. Don Broussard (JAMES JASEK) > 6. Bill Russell (Jim Kennedy) > 7. Don Broussard (Mimi Jasek) > 8. Re: Don Broussard passed away ([email protected]) > 9. Further news on Don Broussard (William R. Elliott) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 17:04:26 -0500 > From: "William R. Elliott" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > Message-ID: > <CACOkPvnNgHD2cFnukKPzYt4PUv=jmtv17vtka6qcb7korls...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > *Don Broussard* > > August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019 > > Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed away > probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, had visited > Don May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on Sundays, but David > could not reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was asked to check on him, and > she found him deceased in his home between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. > The cause is not known at this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good > health lately. > > Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from about 1967 > through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the support crew for major > expeditions to Huautla and other destinations until recently. Don was > always cheerful and helpful. His trademark was to walk up and say “Good > morning!” even if it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, > modest, and quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a > faithful helper, a faithful friend.” > > Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st through 12th > grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where he started caving, > then to the University of Texas, where he joined the UT Grotto caving club. > He, David, and Bill Elliott were caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In > the summer of 1969 Don worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the > Sierra de El Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves > for Robert W. Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for John > Fish from 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s dissertation work on > hydrogeology. Most of Don’s work in the El Abra is documented in AMCS > Bulletin 14 by John Fish, Karst Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico > (2004) and AMCS Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico > (2018). Don was declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in more > caves for science and mapping than anyone else. Friends presented him with > a free copy of the cavefish bulletin in 2018 and had a lunch in his honor. > > Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS cavers, > those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the loss of Don > Broussard. Don was very involved in the exploration of the Sierra de El > Abra and Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his early caving years. In the > 1980s Don led efforts to explore and survey the Crevice in the deepest part > of Sótano de las Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the > Huautla area of Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya con > Oztotl, Don!” > > John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad Valles > after a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged covered in mud. > When they returned to their rented room Don walked straight to the concrete > shower stall and proceeded to wash down his muddy clothes before stripping > and scrubbing himself down to the skin. That way he got all the mud off in > one session. > > Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the AMCS > newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 maps in San > Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved with mapping Sótano del > Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He led the re-survey of the cave from > 1989-1998, the longest project in the Sierra de El Abra. > > Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. He is > survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; sister, Linda > Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan Broussard, Houston area; and > cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. David Honea has notified the family and > will be assisting them in making arrangements. > > A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the next AMCS > Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing tributes to Don. We ask > that cavers be respectful of the life of Don Broussard, and please do not > post critical or embarrassing remarks. We all miss our dear friend, Don! > > Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan McNatt, > Peter Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. > > *William R. (Bill) Elliott* > > *[email protected] <[email protected]>* > > 573-291-5093 cell > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.texascavers.com/private/texascavers/attachments/20190520/ec2c3a80/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 17:33:00 -0500 > From: Bill Steele <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > Message-ID: > <calcxobdp6royrgecejdwdwad-duhc4hchv9jrksvyrz2wg8...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I first met Don Broussard in the fall of 1971 as I passed through Austin on > my way to Mexico. That was almost forty-eight years ago. He was two months > to the day older than me, something I mentioned many times. My older > friend. Don and I did a lot of caving together. > > It wasn’t just caving, either. Don was an active member of The Explorers > Club. He joined in 1984 and was made a fellow upon joining. That’s a great > honor. It says that you have made a lasting contribution to some realm of > exploration. He already had, 35 years ago. > > Don had the greatest tenure in caving at Sistema Huautla. He first went > there in 1969 and the last time was in 2018. He was on some epic trips. He > was there when we started the climb up to Anthodite Hall. He was there when > we discovered the Lower Gorge of Sotano de San Agustin. He was trapped > underground 500 meters deep with us in that same cave for four days in 1977 > and had run out of insulin. He was there in 1987 when we connected Nita > Nanta to Sistema Huautla, making it the world’s second deepest cave at the > time. Maybe “he was there” sums it up. More often than not, Don was there. > > In Texas Don was a mainstay in the exploration of our longest cave, Honey > Creek Cave. And our third longest cave, whose name I shall not mention by > request of the landowner, Don camped on the surface there last month while > cave divers camped underground, far from the entrance, knowing Don was in > support on the surface. He was always to be counted on. And he did so > calmly with a smile. > > C. William "Bill" Steele > 500 Kingston Drive > Irving, Texas 75061 USA > [email protected] > [email protected] > cell 214-770-4712 > > > On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:05 PM William R. Elliott <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> *Don Broussard* >> >> August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019 >> >> Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed away >> probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, had visited >> Don May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on Sundays, but David >> could not reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was asked to check on him, and >> she found him deceased in his home between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. >> The cause is not known at this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good >> health lately. >> >> Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from about 1967 >> through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the support crew for major >> expeditions to Huautla and other destinations until recently. Don was >> always cheerful and helpful. His trademark was to walk up and say “Good >> morning!” even if it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, >> modest, and quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a >> faithful helper, a faithful friend.” >> >> Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st through 12th >> grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where he started caving, >> then to the University of Texas, where he joined the UT Grotto caving club. >> He, David, and Bill Elliott were caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In >> the summer of 1969 Don worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the >> Sierra de El Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves >> for Robert W. Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for John >> Fish from 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s dissertation work on >> hydrogeology. Most of Don’s work in the El Abra is documented in AMCS >> Bulletin 14 by John Fish, Karst Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico >> (2004) and AMCS Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico >> (2018). Don was declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in more >> caves for science and mapping than anyone else. Friends presented him with >> a free copy of the cavefish bulletin in 2018 and had a lunch in his honor. >> >> Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS cavers, >> those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the loss of Don >> Broussard. Don was very involved in the exploration of the Sierra de El >> Abra and Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his early caving years. In the >> 1980s Don led efforts to explore and survey the Crevice in the deepest part >> of Sótano de las Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the >> Huautla area of Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya con >> Oztotl, Don!” >> >> John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad Valles >> after a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged covered in mud. >> When they returned to their rented room Don walked straight to the concrete >> shower stall and proceeded to wash down his muddy clothes before stripping >> and scrubbing himself down to the skin. That way he got all the mud off in >> one session. >> >> Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the AMCS >> newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 maps in San >> Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved with mapping Sótano del >> Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He led the re-survey of the cave from >> 1989-1998, the longest project in the Sierra de El Abra. >> >> Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. He is >> survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; sister, Linda >> Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan Broussard, Houston area; and >> cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. David Honea has notified the family and >> will be assisting them in making arrangements. >> >> A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the next >> AMCS Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing tributes to Don. >> We ask that cavers be respectful of the life of Don Broussard, and please >> do not post critical or embarrassing remarks. We all miss our dear friend, >> Don! >> >> Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan McNatt, >> Peter Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. >> >> *William R. (Bill) Elliott* >> >> *[email protected] <[email protected]>* >> >> 573-291-5093 cell >> _______________________________________________ >> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com >> [email protected] | Archives: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers >> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.texascavers.com/private/texascavers/attachments/20190520/88ca06d9/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 18:29:24 -0500 > From: "William R. Elliott" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > Message-ID: > <CACOkPvnWrM+GjzLHPNoyfsJX2DNpcO97gg8FyqfFimpsHiFE=a...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thank you, Bill Steele, for saying that about Don Broussard. He was a tough > old caver, but such a sweet guy. > > *William R. (Bill) Elliott* > > *[email protected] <[email protected]>* > > 573-291-5093 cell > > > On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:33 PM Bill Steele <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I first met Don Broussard in the fall of 1971 as I passed through Austin >> on my way to Mexico. That was almost forty-eight years ago. He was two >> months to the day older than me, something I mentioned many times. My older >> friend. Don and I did a lot of caving together. >> >> It wasn’t just caving, either. Don was an active member of The Explorers >> Club. He joined in 1984 and was made a fellow upon joining. That’s a great >> honor. It says that you have made a lasting contribution to some realm of >> exploration. He already had, 35 years ago. >> >> Don had the greatest tenure in caving at Sistema Huautla. He first went >> there in 1969 and the last time was in 2018. He was on some epic trips. He >> was there when we started the climb up to Anthodite Hall. He was there when >> we discovered the Lower Gorge of Sotano de San Agustin. He was trapped >> underground 500 meters deep with us in that same cave for four days in 1977 >> and had run out of insulin. He was there in 1987 when we connected Nita >> Nanta to Sistema Huautla, making it the world’s second deepest cave at the >> time. Maybe “he was there” sums it up. More often than not, Don was there. >> >> In Texas Don was a mainstay in the exploration of our longest cave, Honey >> Creek Cave. And our third longest cave, whose name I shall not mention by >> request of the landowner, Don camped on the surface there last month while >> cave divers camped underground, far from the entrance, knowing Don was in >> support on the surface. He was always to be counted on. And he did so >> calmly with a smile. >> >> C. William "Bill" Steele >> 500 Kingston Drive >> Irving, Texas 75061 USA >> [email protected] >> [email protected] >> cell 214-770-4712 >> >> >> On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:05 PM William R. Elliott <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> *Don Broussard* >>> >>> August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019 >>> >>> Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed away >>> probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, had visited >>> Don May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on Sundays, but David >>> could not reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was asked to check on him, and >>> she found him deceased in his home between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. >>> The cause is not known at this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good >>> health lately. >>> >>> Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from about >>> 1967 through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the support crew for >>> major expeditions to Huautla and other destinations until recently. Don was >>> always cheerful and helpful. His trademark was to walk up and say “Good >>> morning!” even if it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, >>> modest, and quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a >>> faithful helper, a faithful friend.” >>> >>> Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st through 12th >>> grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where he started caving, >>> then to the University of Texas, where he joined the UT Grotto caving club. >>> He, David, and Bill Elliott were caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In >>> the summer of 1969 Don worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the >>> Sierra de El Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves >>> for Robert W. Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for John >>> Fish from 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s dissertation work on >>> hydrogeology. Most of Don’s work in the El Abra is documented in AMCS >>> Bulletin 14 by John Fish, Karst Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico >>> (2004) and AMCS Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico >>> (2018). Don was declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in more >>> caves for science and mapping than anyone else. Friends presented him with >>> a free copy of the cavefish bulletin in 2018 and had a lunch in his honor. >>> >>> Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS cavers, >>> those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the loss of Don >>> Broussard. Don was very involved in the exploration of the Sierra de El >>> Abra and Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his early caving years. In the >>> 1980s Don led efforts to explore and survey the Crevice in the deepest part >>> of Sótano de las Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the >>> Huautla area of Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya con >>> Oztotl, Don!” >>> >>> John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad Valles >>> after a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged covered in mud. >>> When they returned to their rented room Don walked straight to the concrete >>> shower stall and proceeded to wash down his muddy clothes before stripping >>> and scrubbing himself down to the skin. That way he got all the mud off in >>> one session. >>> >>> Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the AMCS >>> newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 maps in San >>> Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved with mapping Sótano del >>> Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He led the re-survey of the cave from >>> 1989-1998, the longest project in the Sierra de El Abra. >>> >>> Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. He is >>> survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; sister, Linda >>> Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan Broussard, Houston area; and >>> cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. David Honea has notified the family and >>> will be assisting them in making arrangements. >>> >>> A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the next >>> AMCS Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing tributes to Don. >>> We ask that cavers be respectful of the life of Don Broussard, and please >>> do not post critical or embarrassing remarks. We all miss our dear friend, >>> Don! >>> >>> Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan McNatt, >>> Peter Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. >>> >>> *William R. (Bill) Elliott* >>> >>> *[email protected] <[email protected]>* >>> >>> 573-291-5093 cell >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com >>> [email protected] | Archives: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com >> [email protected] | Archives: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers >> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.texascavers.com/private/texascavers/attachments/20190520/14deb8f8/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 20:03:16 -0500 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed > > Recollections of Don Broussard > > Don Broussard was a frequent caving companion of mine for about 20 years > in the 1980s and ‘90s. For most of those years we were also neighbors in > Driftwood, Texas. Don was active, even legendary, in Mexican caving, > including long stints in both the Sierra de El Abra and in Huautla, the > latter as recently as 2018. Don was one of the principal explorers of > the Crevice at the bottom of Sótano de las Golondrinas, which extends > the famous pit to over 500 m deep. He was also active in Texas, making > many survey trips into Honey Creek and later supporting diving efforts > there, among other projects. > > One particularly memorable trip with Don in Huautla comes to mind. In > 1987, while coming out of Camp IV in Sótano de San Agustín after the > historic connection with Nita Nanta, Don injured his back and needed to > bivouac near the entrance. Bill Steele stayed with him. The following > day Doug Powell and I went in to help carry his gear. While we waited > for Don to climb out, the three of us investigated a high ledge just > inside the cave. We probed breakdown following the air, and eventually > found an obscure way through the collapse into a totally independent > deep route, unknown and unsuspected for over 20 years. That passage, the > Fool’s Day Extension, reconnected about 500 meters lower, but provided a > much improved route to the bottom that played a pivotal role in future > expeditions. So while Don didn’t discover that passage himself, we > wouldn’t have found it without him. > > Don had several close calls while caving and became legendary for those > as well. He survived free diving into a pocket of bad air and passing > out in the Sierra de El Abra, a plane crash in the Sierra de Guatemala, > and getting short-roped in Sótano de San Agustín, causing him to nearly > run out of insulin (Don was diabetic), to name a few. We began to talk > about the nine lives of Don Broussard because he survived so many > potentially fatal scenarios. > > Don was a diminutive man who lived a simple life, but made a big impact > on caving. He will be missed. > > Mark Minton > [email protected] > > On 2019-05-20 18:29, William R. Elliott wrote: >> Thank you, Bill Steele, for saying that about Don Broussard. He was a >> tough old caver, but such a sweet guy. >> >> WILLIAM R. (BILL) ELLIOTT >> >> [email protected] >> >> 573-291-5093 cell >> >> On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:33 PM Bill Steele <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> I first met Don Broussard in the fall of 1971 as I passed through >>> Austin on my way to Mexico. That was almost forty-eight years ago. >>> He was two months to the day older than me, something I mentioned >>> many times. My older friend. Don and I did a lot of caving together. >>> >>> It wasn’t just caving, either. Don was an active member of The >>> Explorers Club. He joined in 1984 and was made a fellow upon >>> joining. That’s a great honor. It says that you have made a >>> lasting contribution to some realm of exploration. He already had, >>> 35 years ago. >>> >>> Don had the greatest tenure in caving at Sistema Huautla. He first >>> went there in 1969 and the last time was in 2018. He was on some >>> epic trips. He was there when we started the climb up to Anthodite >>> Hall. He was there when we discovered the Lower Gorge of Sotano de >>> San Agustin. He was trapped underground 500 meters deep with us in >>> that same cave for four days in 1977 and had run out of insulin. He >>> was there in 1987 when we connected Nita Nanta to Sistema Huautla, >>> making it the world’s second deepest cave at the time. Maybe “he >>> was there” sums it up. More often than not, Don was there. >>> >>> In Texas Don was a mainstay in the exploration of our longest cave, >>> Honey Creek Cave. And our third longest cave, whose name I shall not >>> mention by request of the landowner, Don camped on the surface there >>> last month while cave divers camped underground, far from the >>> entrance, knowing Don was in support on the surface. He was always >>> to be counted on. And he did so calmly with a smile. >>> >>> C. William "Bill" Steele >>> 500 Kingston Drive >>> Irving, Texas 75061 USA >>> [email protected] >>> [email protected] >>> cell 214-770-4712 >>> >>> On Mon, May 20, 2019 at 5:05 PM William R. Elliott >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> DON BROUSSARD >>>> >>>> August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019 >>>> >>>> Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed >>>> away probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, >>>> had visited Don May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on >>>> Sundays, but David could not reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was >>>> asked to check on him, and she found him deceased in his home >>>> between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. The cause is not known at >>>> this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good health lately. >>>> >>>> Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from >>>> about 1967 through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the >>>> support crew for major expeditions to Huautla and other >>>> destinations until recently. Don was always cheerful and helpful. >>>> His trademark was to walk up and say “Good morning!” even if >>>> it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, modest, and >>>> quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a >>>> faithful helper, a faithful friend.” >>>> >>>> Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st >>>> through 12th grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where >>>> he started caving, then to the University of Texas, where he >>>> joined the UT Grotto caving club. He, David, and Bill Elliott were >>>> caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In the summer of 1969 Don >>>> worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the Sierra de El >>>> Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves for >>>> Robert W. Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for >>>> John Fish from 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s >>>> dissertation work on hydrogeology. Most of Don’s work in the El >>>> Abra is documented in AMCS Bulletin 14 by John Fish, Karst >>>> Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico (2004) and AMCS >>>> Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico (2018). >>>> Don was declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in >>>> more caves for science and mapping than anyone else. Friends >>>> presented him with a free copy of the cavefish bulletin in 2018 >>>> and had a lunch in his honor. >>>> >>>> Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS >>>> cavers, those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the >>>> loss of Don Broussard. Don was very involved in the exploration of >>>> the Sierra de El Abra and Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his >>>> early caving years. In the 1980s Don led efforts to explore and >>>> survey the Crevice in the deepest part of Sótano de las >>>> Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the Huautla >>>> area of Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya >>>> con Oztotl, Don!” >>>> >>>> John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad >>>> Valles after a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged >>>> covered in mud. When they returned to their rented room Don walked >>>> straight to the concrete shower stall and proceeded to wash down >>>> his muddy clothes before stripping and scrubbing himself down to >>>> the skin. That way he got all the mud off in one session. >>>> >>>> Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the >>>> AMCS newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 >>>> maps in San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved >>>> with mapping Sótano del Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He >>>> led the re-survey of the cave from 1989-1998, the longest project >>>> in the Sierra de El Abra. >>>> >>>> Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. >>>> He is survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; >>>> sister, Linda Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan >>>> Broussard, Houston area; and cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. >>>> David Honea has notified the family and will be assisting them in >>>> making arrangements. >>>> >>>> A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the >>>> next AMCS Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing >>>> tributes to Don. We ask that cavers be respectful of the life of >>>> Don Broussard, and please do not post critical or embarrassing >>>> remarks. We all miss our dear friend, Don! >>>> >>>> Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan >>>> McNatt, Peter Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. >>>> >>>> WILLIAM R. (BILL) ELLIOTT >>>> >>>> [email protected] > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 21:16:53 -0500 > From: JAMES JASEK <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Don Broussard > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Wow, what a terrible shock. Don and I were good friends. Don was a really > nice guy. I first met Don in 1969, on a trip to Carrizal and caved with with > here in Texas. I will miss him. > > James Jasek > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 22:31:21 -0500 > From: Jim Kennedy <[email protected]> > To: CaveTex <[email protected]> > Subject: [Texascavers] Bill Russell > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Posted at the request of Julie Jenkins: > > > The Hem of His Pants > by Lauren Ross > > Water from the Barton Springs Edwards aquifer bubbles from five spring > openings: Parthenia, in the bottom of the swimming pool, Eliza, Sunken > Gardens, Upper Barton Spring and Cold Springs. The elevation of these springs > is just above the bottom of the Colorado River. That spring opening elevation > is not an accident. Millions of years ago, before the Colorado River eroded > her banks to their current level, spring openings were higher. > > You can still find relic spring openings along the greenbelt above the pool. > One of them is Airmen’s Cave. When I think about the Airmen’s Cave opening, > my hands make a shape the size of a football. It is bigger than that, wider > than my shoulders, but not nearly high enough to accommodate a knee swing > under the hip to crawl. Entering Airman’s Cave requires a full-body stretch, > arms reaching forward, and a slither. After about fifteen feet, the passage > opens up to accommodate a crawl. This low, wide passage extends miles. > > I am not naturally inclined toward caving. I shiver at the thought of cramped > entrances, pulsing clumps of daddy-long-legs inches from my face. My mind > goes toward scorpions and rattlesnakes. Yeah, rattlesnakes in caves are a > thing. One night Bill and I entered Live Oak Cave. We were about ten feet > into a wide, low passage when I heard a buzz. I’ve not heard that sound many > times in my life. I am surprised that I knew what it was. My body responded > before my brain digested sensation into a thought. Bill was behind me, but I > climbed straight over his small, wiry body to be the first of us out of the > cave. > > It has been part of my work, the most important part, to provide engineering > support to protect Barton Springs from the nasty things in storm runoff, > wastewater, oil and gas pipelines, and highway spills. To protect it from > towering mounds of sediment loosened when construction bulldozes the juniper > and live oak. So, despite claustrophobia and a healthy respect for > rattlesnakes, I have experienced from the inside, the aquifer that feeds the > miracle of clear, flowing water bubbling into the heart of Austin. Bill > Russell and Jules Jenkins were my guides. > > Bill and Jules outfitted me with a hardhat and headlamp, packed a few of > their dozen extra AA batteries into my backpack. They coached me on the > choreography of twisting my body through Breach Birth in Blowing Sink Cave. > And when my core muscles weren’t able to slither through that narrow opening > into Airmen’s cave, my stretched-out fingers gripped the thick hem seam of > Bill’s pants. He pulled me through. That was a single moment, and I am just > one of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who have gone someplace they > never would have gone but for Bill Russell. > > Please sign this petition to name Blowing Sink Preserve after Bill: > http://chng.it/RjcNc2VmCD > > Mobile email from my iPhone > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 20 May 2019 23:01:09 -0500 > From: Mimi Jasek <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Don Broussard > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > When one knows a friend is ill and perhaps not long for this physical world, > it is hard enough to say goodby and try to find peace with their passing. Our > caving community has had to do this too often this past year. Now, another > integral part of our Texas caving community is suddenly gone for a reason > unknown, and this is a blow much harder to understand and absorb. > > Don was one of those ever present members who made you feel good whenever you > were with him. I never caved with him, but always felt welcomed when we would > meet at various caving events over the past 46 years. That easy smile and > quiet interest just pulled you in. My husband James Jasek and I were out > eating when a friend called to check up on us, and asked if we had heard the > news. Totally shocked, I pulled up e-mail on my phone for us to learn any > details that were available. Then came the memories. > > For me, the main memories of him that came back the minute I heard and read > this sad news were not mine, though, but those of my younger sister Jane > Laurens. She and her friends in the short lived Temple Cavers grotto had > gotten me into caving, and within a year had graduated and eventually moved > on to various university grottos. Jane ended up at UT at Austin, and joined > the UT Grotto. Don seemed to be one of her main mentors in this group, and > she would often mention him when talking about her continuing caving exploits > south of me. He was always ready with help or advice, no matter how small or > insignificant the question or problem seemed to be, and among others in the > grotto, seemed to look after her! As a loving big sister, this made a lasting > impression that is there to this day. I called her to give her the sad news > once my evening at home settled down, and she was shocked and saddened. Her > response was “Oh man, one of the really good, sweet guys is gone!” Our > sentiments align. Jane sends her regards to all Don’s big network of caving > family and friends, as do James and I. We have lost another great one. > > With deep respect and heartfelt memories of a sweet, wonderful, but full life > lost. > > Mimi Jasek > > Sent from my iPhone > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 21 May 2019 10:19:30 -0400 > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > What a wonderful man! I called him dapper Don because despite the mud and > blood he always looked so preternaturally neat and clean. I will never forget > the wonderful post convention (94?) trip to Mexico that he organized and led. > We were a somewhat fractious group, but Don kept us all on an even keel with > his calm wise counsel. We visited Hoya de las Guaguas, Las Pozas, and El > Sotano. What a blast! I still have a 300 foot piece of that rope that I > cherish but will probably never use again. Thereafter, whenever I visited > Texas I was always welcome at his home. > > > > Sleazel > > > > Ps: On a lighter note, I just attended the 68th annual SERA Cave Carnival in > Alabama. You will find a jocular writeup of that and related adventures here: > https://weazelwise.com/2019/05/19/the-wedding-chapel/ > > > > Pps: Dear Nancy: Thanks for all that you do. There are worse way to exit than > to see your smiling face at the end. Don and I are almost the same age, so > I’m just glad I survived your visit! > > > > From: Texascavers <[email protected]> On Behalf Of William > R. Elliott > Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 6:04 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Don Broussard passed away > > > > Don Broussard > > August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019 > > Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed away > probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, had visited Don > May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on Sundays, but David could not > reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was asked to check on him, and she found > him deceased in his home between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. The cause is > not known at this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good health lately. > > Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from about 1967 > through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the support crew for major > expeditions to Huautla and other destinations until recently. Don was always > cheerful and helpful. His trademark was to walk up and say “Good morning!” > even if it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, modest, and > quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a faithful helper, a > faithful friend.” > > Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st through 12th > grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where he started caving, then > to the University of Texas, where he joined the UT Grotto caving club. He, > David, and Bill Elliott were caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In the > summer of 1969 Don worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the Sierra de > El Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves for Robert W. > Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for John Fish from > 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s dissertation work on hydrogeology. > Most of Don’s work in the El Abra is documented in AMCS Bulletin 14 by John > Fish, Karst Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico (2004) and AMCS > Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico (2018). Don was > declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in more caves for science > and mapping than anyone else. Friends presented him with a free copy of the > cavefish bulletin in 2018 and had a lunch in his honor. > > Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS cavers, > those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the loss of Don Broussard. > Don was very involved in the exploration of the Sierra de El Abra and > Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his early caving years. In the 1980s Don led > efforts to explore and survey the Crevice in the deepest part of Sótano de > las Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the Huautla area of > Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya con Oztotl, Don!” > > John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad Valles after > a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged covered in mud. When > they returned to their rented room Don walked straight to the concrete shower > stall and proceeded to wash down his muddy clothes before stripping and > scrubbing himself down to the skin. That way he got all the mud off in one > session. > > Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the AMCS > newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 maps in San Luis > Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved with mapping Sótano del > Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He led the re-survey of the cave from > 1989-1998, the longest project in the Sierra de El Abra. > > Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. He is > survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; sister, Linda > Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan Broussard, Houston area; and > cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. David Honea has notified the family and will > be assisting them in making arrangements. > > A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the next AMCS > Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing tributes to Don. We ask > that cavers be respectful of the life of Don Broussard, and please do not > post critical or embarrassing remarks. We all miss our dear friend, Don! > > Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan McNatt, Peter > Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. > > > > William R. (Bill) Elliott > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > 573-291-5093 cell > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.texascavers.com/private/texascavers/attachments/20190521/2c3b3254/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Tue, 21 May 2019 10:12:11 -0500 > From: "William R. Elliott" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Further news on Don Broussard > Message-ID: > <CACOkPvkgL=dgoxnbgxd0gpdume92cdq7-2v84mwhqd6n1yo...@mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > David Honea in Colorado says he just got a report that Don Broussard's > cause of death was determined to be heart failure. > > I have no details, but we are thankful to know. > > Thank you David. > > *William R. (Bill) Elliott* > > *[email protected] <[email protected]>* > > 573-291-5093 cell > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://lists.texascavers.com/private/texascavers/attachments/20190521/c4662aa8/attachment-0001.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Texascavers mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Texascavers Digest, Vol 59, Issue 17 > *******************************************
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