Marshall Curtis Peters
b. 20 March 1904, d. 12 October 1981
- Marshall Curtis Peters was born on 20 March 1904 in Brazos County, Texas, in the Harvey community.
- He married Ellen Bookman, daughter of Pickens Butler Bookman and Ellen Pegues Smith, in 1933.
- Marshall Curtis Peters died on 12 October 1981 at age 77 in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas.
- He was interred at Bryan City Cemetery, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas.
- His wife Ellen Bookman became a widow at his death.
- The following appeared on 13 October 1981 in The Eagle: Marshall C. Peters, 77, senior chairman of the board of City National Bank in Bryan and former mayor of Navasota, died Monday morning. He was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan after suffering a heart attack. Time of death was reported at 6:20 a.m.
Peters was a banker, rancher, businessman, and civic leader, spending most of his life in the Brazos County area. He as born in the Harvey community, east of College Station, on March 20, 1904, and lived in Navasota for 16 years. He became active in civic affairs there, serving two terms as mayor from September 1940 through April 1942.
In 1929, Peters opened an automobile dealership in Navasota and became involved in ranching activities in Grimes county. Over the next few decades, he was active in ranching enterprises and land conservation programs in Grimes, Burleson, Frio, and Brazos counties. During that same time, he also conducted and developed a prosperous family mortgage banking business.
Peters also owned several businesses in Navasota, including a real estate firm, a furniture store, a restaurant, and a laundry. Before becoming the town's mayor, he was a member of the city commission. Peters began his banking career with Republic National Bank of Dallas in 1925, after education in Bryan public schools, Tyler Commercial College and Texas A&M University. He moved back to Brazos County in 1926 to accept a bookkeeping position at City National Bank.
He became a director of City National Bank in 1943 and moved his family and business interests to Bryan in 1945. He served on many bank committees including audit, building and investments and as chairman of the loan committee. He was elected chairman of the board in 1962.
His two sons, Marshall Bookman Peters and Mervin Dansby Peters, are now executives at the bank. Bookman Peters is chairman and chief executive officer. Mervin Peters is the bank's president.
Peters supported many charities and was a donor to the President's Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M University.
"His record of success has not changed him form the warm and personable young man who grew up in Brazos County," read a quote from an unnamed source in a July 19, 1970 edition of the Eagle. "He always has time for anyone who seeks his counsel and he continually enjoys visiting with young children."
Peters was a member of the American and Texas Bankers Association, the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association and the Houston Livestock Association. He served as chairman of the Brazos County Youth Livestock Show and the Bryan United Way.
He was a member and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan. Funeral services are set today at 4 p.m. in that church with Rev. Robert H. Leslie officiating. Memorial Funeral Chapel of Bryan is in charge of arrangements.
Peters is survived by his wife, Ellen Bookman Peters, his two sons and their wives, Patricia Stehr Peters and Annette Adams Peters. He has one brother, Douglas L. Peters of Bryan, one sister, Mildred P. Kelley of Austin, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. E. E. Peters of Bryan. He has five grandchildren: Karen Ellen Peters, Laura Stehr Peters, Eileen Bookman Peters, Margaret Annette Peters and George Marshall Peters, all of Bryan.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Bryan.
- Last Edited: 6 Jul 2015