Kerrville Mountain Sun
April 30, 1959

Death Closes Life Of Col. George DuBose Sears

With the death of Col. George DuBose Sears, 70, which occurred Saturday at his home on Tanager Lane, the career of one of the state's most illustrious lawyers and military men came to a close. The funeral services were held Monday morning from the Smith Chapel with Rev. William P. Weeks of St Peter's Episcopal Church officiating and military rites were held Tuesday morning at the Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. A native of Houston, he had served in two World Wars and had been awarded twelve ribbons for duty with the Army from the Mexican border to Japan, and during nine years of combat duty and 37 years of service. He was graduated from the Houston schools, the West Texas Military Academy, and was student in the University of Texas from 1905 until 1909. He practiced law in Houston where his father, the late William Gray Sears, was a distinguished barrister. He enlisted in the "A" Company of the Third Texas Infantry in 1916, which was known as the Houston Light Brigade and served on the Mexican border and was transferred to the 86th Division at the outbreak of World War I. He was commissioned from the ranks in 1917 and served with the 143rd Infantry and the 72nd Infantry. Soon he was promoted to captain and was made an assistant to the chief-of-staff. At the close of the war, he returned to his law practice in Houston and had an illustrious career. He held his commission in the Texas National Guard and went into Federal Service with his unit to Brownwood. He joined General Kreuger in Hollandia, New Guinea, and became a military government officer. He took part in the landings on Leyte in the Philippines, where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart medal. He received the Oak Leaf cluster to the Legion of Merit for having planned the military government over half of Japan. He was given the Bronze Star for his organization of, and leading, a rescue column to free 4,000 military and civilian prisoners at Santo Thomas in the Philippines. He received the Legion of meret for his work on the Island and was awarded the Philippine Distinguished Silver Star. Hew was retired from the Army in 1946 on account of his physical disability and he and Mrs. Sears retired to their Valley View Ranch Near Banders. He suffered from cancer, and when his condition became worse they moved to Kerville and purchased a home on Tanager Lane. He spent a great deal of thime in the Peterson Hospital, but had returned to his home before the end of his life had come. His survivors are his widow of the home address; one daughter, Mrs. C. W. Casy of Rochester, N.Y.; a brother, William G. Sears of Houston; and three sisters: Mrs. Erwin Smith and Mrs. James B. McGee, Houston, and Mrs. Mary Sanford, Kerrville.

Kerrville Mountain Sun
April 30, 1959

George Dubose Sears