*Don Broussard* August 17, 1948 – May 16?, 2019
Famous caver, Don Broussard, from the Austin, Texas area, passed away probably on Thursday, May 16. His close friend, David Honea, had visited Don May 6-10, and they usually spoke on the phone on Sundays, but David could not reach Don on May 19. Nancy Weaver was asked to check on him, and she found him deceased in his home between Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas. The cause is not known at this time. Don was diabetic, but he was in good health lately. Don was an active caver who went on many hard caving trips from about 1967 through the 1990s. He continued to be part of the support crew for major expeditions to Huautla and other destinations until recently. Don was always cheerful and helpful. His trademark was to walk up and say “Good morning!” even if it was late at night. Everyone noticed how unassuming, modest, and quiet he was. His good friend, John Fish, said, “Don was a faithful helper, a faithful friend.” Don and David Honea were friends in Houston schools from 1st through 12th grade. Don went to the University of Arkansas, where he started caving, then to the University of Texas, where he joined the UT Grotto caving club. He, David, and Bill Elliott were caver pals and roommates in 1968-1969. In the summer of 1969 Don worked with Bill Elliott and Jim McIntire in the Sierra de El Abra, mapping and making cavefish collections in many caves for Robert W. Mitchell’s cavefish research. After that he worked for John Fish from 1971-1973 in the El Abra as part of John’s dissertation work on hydrogeology. Most of Don’s work in the El Abra is documented in AMCS Bulletin 14 by John Fish, Karst Hydrology of the Sierra de El Abra, Mexico (2004) and AMCS Bulletin 26 by Bill Elliott, The Astyanax Caves of Mexico (2018). Don was declared the “King of the El Abra” because he went in more caves for science and mapping than anyone else. Friends presented him with a free copy of the cavefish bulletin in 2018 and had a lunch in his honor. Peter Sprouse said, “The passing of the first generation of AMCS cavers, those who were active in the 1960s, continues with the loss of Don Broussard. Don was very involved in the exploration of the Sierra de El Abra and Aquismón in San Luis Potosí in his early caving years. In the 1980s Don led efforts to explore and survey the Crevice in the deepest part of Sótano de las Golondrinas. Has was also active in explorations in the Huautla area of Oaxaca and the Purificación karst of Tamaulipas. ¡Vaya con Oztotl, Don!” John Fish remembers the time when he and Don returned to Ciudad Valles after a crawlway trip in Sótano de la Tinaja. They emerged covered in mud. When they returned to their rented room Don walked straight to the concrete shower stall and proceeded to wash down his muddy clothes before stripping and scrubbing himself down to the skin. That way he got all the mud off in one session. Bill Elliott is working on an index to Don’s name in all of the AMCS newsletters and maps he participated in. His name was on 47 maps in San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas alone. Don was involved with mapping Sótano del Venadito, Tamps., from 1969 to 1998. He led the re-survey of the cave from 1989-1998, the longest project in the Sierra de El Abra. Don’s family originally was from the Houston area and Louisiana. He is survived by his mother, Madeline Skinner of Brenham, Texas; sister, Linda Broussard, Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Morgan Broussard, Houston area; and cousin, Wendell, Smithville, TX. David Honea has notified the family and will be assisting them in making arrangements. A full obituary with more details will be posted later and in the next AMCS Activities Newsletter. Many friends will be writing tributes to Don. We ask that cavers be respectful of the life of Don Broussard, and please do not post critical or embarrassing remarks. We all miss our dear friend, Don! Contributors: William R. Elliott, John Fish, David Honea, Logan McNatt, Peter Sprouse, Nancy Weaver. *William R. (Bill) Elliott* *[email protected] <[email protected]>* 573-291-5093 cell
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