Carl Simone Menger III, beloved son, brother, and father, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2014, at age 60, after fighting a long battle with cancer. He was born on August 29, 1954 in Bitburg, Germany and later moved to Paducah, Texas, where he spent his younger years. Later he and his family moved to Houston, where he was raised and lived for the majority of his life.
Carl graduated from Westchester High School in 1973 and accepted a football scholarship from Texas A&M University, after being offered many football scholarships from across the country. He later accepted a scholarship from the University of Oklahoma, where he trained under the coaching of Barry Switzer. Following his college years, he went to work for the Menger Company, and shortly thereafter went to work for his brother, Marek Menger, at ASAP Freight Systems, where he worked until he became ill.
Carl was an all-around athlete and true Texan at heart. He excelled in many sports from football to golf, and in his later years, loved playing shuffleboard. Carl enjoyed spending time with his brother, his two daughters, traveling, the outdoors, building furniture, and cooking. He strongly believed that the best season of all was football season and on any given weekend, you could find him eagerly engaged in the spirit of the game. If Carl wasn't wearing his boots and wranglers, he was casually donning his Texas A&M gear, embracing aggie football spirit year round.
Despite growing up in Houston, Carl sincerely loved the country. He enjoyed the peacefulness, the scenery, and the easy-going pace. From his hallmark expression "Hey podz" to the more familiar "Howdy," Carl was undeniably a country-city boy. He was a loving father and brother, and a supportive and loyal friend to many. He will be dearly missed.
Carl is survived by his daughters, Paige and Cassidy Menger of Cranfills Gap and Simone Batton of Houston; his mother, Shirley and the late Duane Clisbee of Houston; his father, Carl Simone Menger Jr and wife Linda of Conroe; his brother and sister-in-law, Marek and Sherry Menger of Houston; and his sister and brother-in-law, Jeannine and Frank Devine of Katy.
A remembrance service will be held at the Memorial Church of Christ on Thursday October 30th, at 10:30 in the morning.
Published in Houston Chronicle on Oct. 28, 2014
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Kate Merrill Lawrence (Hunnicutt) (1973)
Carl and I became friends when we moved into our Wilchester neighborhood...we spent so many happy hours swimming and and laughing...he was a sweet person, and I would like to send my best wishes for comfort for his family.
Ralph Devine (1973)
God please take care of Carl and make sure all his passes are complete.
Tent Morgan Class of 73
Ralph Devine (1973)
Excerpt from the Baytown Sun in 1972 (Head coach of Baytown Sterling)
he's been around long enough with the Rangers to watch the Westchester Wishbone operate. He knows it's no fluke. The Rangers will be traveling to Spring Branch and newly Astro-Turfed Tully Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday bout with the Wildcats. "They're ranked No. 3 in the state in Texas Football," Dennis says, "and there has to be a reason. We feel they have a good football team." Dennis begins his Westchester praises with quarterback Carl Menger, the shifty little signal caller who led the Cats to a 10-9 victory last year over Sterling. "Carl Menger makes them a real fine football team. Menger, badly burned over the summer, is not expected to start against Sterling Saturday, but Dennis feels he'll be there when the whistle blows. "I feel sure he will play, regardless of what they say," Dennis said, "because he's that type and we think he holds them together. He's their leader."
Gary Douglas Hunt (1972)
Carl was bigger than life back in the day although he never hesitated to be just a "normal" guy. I must admit that Quinn's death hit me harder (after all Chris was so much younger and the way he died was so unreal) but Carl's passing was the first of the "damn, folks my age die of natural causes" group.
In the end, Jim Morrison of The Doors said it best "No one gets out alive."