Jesse B. Gunstream

Jesse B. Gunstream, Jr., 84, of Orange, died Tuesday, November 4, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at the temporary location of Claybar Funeral Home, 1408 W. Park Ave., in Orange. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Orange with the Reverend Tom Stephenson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Born in Orange on July 9, 1924, Mr. Gunstream was the son of Jesse B. Gunstream, Sr. and Edna Cody Wilson Gunstream. He served during WW II in the United States Marine Corp. on the island of Tarawa and Saipan and was a Purple Heart recipient. He received his BBA Degree in 1949 from the University of Texas.

In 1952, Mr. Gunstream began his career with Higman Towing Co. as an accountant and retired as president of the company in 1992. He was a pioneer in the development of the modern barge industry along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Under his leadership, Higman became a front-runner in implementing greater safety in vessel operations. He also was a pioneer in transportation of crude oil and personally scheduled the transportation of more than one billion barrels of crude oil, all without a single major spill. Over the years, he developed a reputation as the expert in the movement of crude oil.

Mr. Gunstream and his company became leaders in developing the modern operating concept of barge transportation on the Intracoastal Waterway by converting its fleet to push boats. This led to larger, twin-screw boats, which allowed larger barges as well as a safer and more efficient industry.

Mr. Gunstream was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Orange. He was very active in professional organizations, serving on the boards and in executive offices of the following: Propeller Club of the U.S. – Port of Sabine, where he was also named Maritime Man of the Year in 1984; American Waterways Operators; Texas Waterways Operators and was a member of the National Rivers Hall of Fame.

He was also involved in community and educational organizations including the following: Orange Community Players where he designed and constructed sets for several musicals and plays; Orange Service League Follies where he supervised set design and construction; Texas Exes and the Orange County Association of Texas Exes, where he served as the first president. He served on the advisory board for Texas A&M Waterways School from 1991 through 1992.
Mr. Gunstream was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Edna Gunstream, brothers, Jack Gunstream, Edward Gunstream and sister, Bobbie Copeland.

He is survived by his wife, June Gunstream of Orange; sons, Jesse B. Gunstream, III of League City, Billy Gunstream of Lufkin, Ben Gunstream and his wife, Melinda, of Pasadena.

Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jesse B. Gunstream, IV, Leslie Gunstream Meko and her husband, Tim, Cody Gunstream, Leah Gunstream and Tyler Heath.

For those who wish, memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church, 502 N. 6th Street, Orange, Texas 77630.