Andrew Pete Andrus, Jr.

Andrew Pete "Andy" Andrus Andrew Pete "Andy" Andrus, 88, passed away Thursday, July 21, surrounded by family, friends, and the caring staff of Magnolia Manor Nursing Home. Andy was born February 26, 1923, in Beaumont, TX, and moved to Port Arthur with his parents Andrew Pete and Georgia Eula (Morgan) Andrus. This modest, good-natured man had at least three outstanding careers, first as a musician, secondly as an athlete, and last, but not least, a free lance photographer, each occurring before, during, and after his 36 years of service with Gulf Oil in Port Arthur. It was at Woodrow Wilson Junior High that Andy began taking clarinet lessons from the venerable O.L. "Pop" Lantz. By the time Andy was in the ninth grade, he became the first drum major for Woodrow Wilson's black and gold band. He would be destined to take up the drum major's baton again with the Maroon and Gold Band of Thomas Jefferson. The highlight of his band career was the trip to New Orleans where the Maroon and Gold Band marched in the honor position in the Mardi Gras Parade directly behind the King Rex float. It didn't take long for a coach to notice Andy's additional talents in a physical education class. Once he put on a pair of track shoes, history was made once more. As a member of the Yellow Jacket track team, the cinder men brought home the tenth straight district championship. On April 5, 1941, at the district track meet in Beaumont, Andy soared twenty-two feet seven and three-fourths inches to set a new broad jump record, which stood more than 40 years and became the longest standing athletic record in the history of Thomas Jefferson high school. It was at North Texas State University that Andy met Mary Copeland, who became his bride in 1942 and the love of his life for 64 years. They were both longtime members of First Baptist Church of Port Arthur. In the fall of 1942, Andy entered military service with the old U.S. Army Air Corps. The Army soon discovered his athletic abilities, and Andy played on service football and softball teams while stationed in Ellington Field and Lincoln Army Air Force Base in Lincoln, Nebraska. After returning to Port Arthur and his job at Gulf, he pitched for Clayton-Thompson, Amuny's and the Gulf Pride softball teams between 1946 and 1950. In 1950, Andy and Mary became interested in square dancing. And, as with his other endeavors, he became a successful square dance caller. With a contract from Blue Star Records in Houston, he entered the professional square dance caller circuit and traveled all over the country from Pennsylvania to Miami, making one four-week tour each year. In September 1979, after retiring from Gulf Oil, he became a free-lance photographer, working with the Port Arthur Independent School District and the Gulf. Andy is preceded in death by his parents, his step mother Edith Andrus Cole, and his wife Mary. Cherishing his memory are his daughter Dr. Janis (Jodi) Hutchins of Port Neches; son Andrew Pete Andrus, III, of Guam, and his wife Susan; his granddaughter Andrea Andrus of Gainesville, Florida; a host of loving nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 26, at 2 p.m. at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves with visitation prior to the service.