BRYAN -- The oldest descendant of the city of Bryan passed away Thursday morning. Travis Bryan, Junior was 87 years old.

Mr. Bryan was involved in the city that beared his family name. From being a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Bryan, to running the family bank, which for over one hundred years was called First National Bank.

Mr. Bryan was also a big sports fan.

He loved to play golf and five times won the Briarcrest Country Club Championship. The first time was back in 1971, and the members later named the trophy in his honor.

"Very seldom was the weather to bad for Mr. Bryan and his group to not play on Mondays," said Bryan High Head Golf Coach Ron Newhouse.

But his love to golf was second to his love for high school football, in-particular the Bryan Vikings.

Mr. Bryan was never one to hide his feelings about his beloved Vikings, and its widely believed that his opinion was sought before each of the last five head coaching hires.

"I remember back in 1972 when Bryan High was looking to hire a football coach, I got a call from a man named Travis Bryan Junior," said Merrill Green who was the Vikings Head Football Coach from 1972 to 1991.

"He has a very distinct voice, that sounds a lot God," added Green.

"He said, 'we would like for you to come to Bryan', I thought it was God speaking, so we came," ended Green.

In March of 2006, 24 years after Green was hired at Bryan High, Mr. Bryan sat in the B.I.S.D. Board Room and watched as Bob Bellard, a former Viking quarterback, was hired to replace Marvin Sedberry.

"The first time I saw Mr. Bryan was at Briarcrest Country Club and he was the club champion so he was a guy that sat above everyone else, but was a guy who had a way about him to touch everyone who was round him," said Bob Bellard, Bryan's current Head Football Coach.

"I know he touched the football program over the years. He had the means to go out and watch any football team he wanted, but told me that 'Viking Football' was a big part of his life," concluded Bellard.

Mr. Bryan got to watch his grandson Austin catch a touchdown pass against Jersey Village in 1990 and there was no one prouder in the stands on that October night almost 19 years ago.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Travis Bryan, Junior was 87 years old. His beloved Vikings will take the field Friday night for homecoming as they host the Shoemaker Grey Wolves at Merrill Green Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:30pm.