Emil Wayne Schmidt

Emil Wayne Schmidt, 93, of Bryan, passed away May 3, 2025. Mr. Schmidt was born December 18, 1931, in Brownwood, Texas, to parents Adolph Emil and Cora Violet White Schmidt. He graduated from Temple High School with Honors in 1949. Some of his favorite jobs as teenager included working at the Eastside and Kyle Drugstores in Temple, Texas, as well as at the Arcadia and Bell Theatres. As a young man, E. Wayne clerked for the Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company (Temple, Tx), and served his country for three years (1951-1954) in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed reminiscing to family and friends about his experiences serving in the army while located in Trieste (Italy), whilst completing his tour as a Staff Sergeant. After serving in the army, he attended Temple Junior College where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree in 1956 and served as the President of the Temple Junior College Student Council. From there, he transferred to Texas A&M University where he received his Bachelor of Architecture (Design) in 1961. While E. Wayne was working on his bachelor’s degree, he received several scholarships and was active member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi Honor Society. He won the AIA Medal Award (Top Architecture, Graduate) in 1961. E. Wayne fell in love with Texas A&M University, became a staunch Aggie and decided to start his career and family in College Station. Before launching his own advertising firm, Brazos Graphics, Inc., E. Wayne worked almost 10 years for Albritton Engineering Corporation starting out as an architectural draftsman until he was asked by the Company President to start-up and manage an Advertising, Graphics & Printing Department. During this time, he worked as Company Coordinator with movie photographers in the production of films such as “The ALENCO Story” and “The ALENCO Crane.” In 1968 ALENCO achieved a record $18 Million in sales and was bought by Redman Industries of Dallas. It was at this time that he started up his own company Brazos Graphics, Inc.; his main clients at the time were ALENCO, The Aggie Club, and Research Equipment Company. Continuing his academic studies, E. Wayne earned a Master of Architecture (Design) from Texas A&M University in 1970, while also serving as the Chairman of both the MSC Creative Arts Committee and the MSC Camera Committee. He was also the Vice President of the Design Student Society and was a member of Alpha Delta Sigma. Apart from his studies and business, E. Wayne served as a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Bryan, Texas; President of the Brazos County A&M Club (1965); President of the Bryan-College Station Aggie Quarterback Club (1968); member of the Memorial Student Center Council at Texas A&M University (1967, 1968); and Director, Secretary, of the Bryan-College Station Junior Chamber of Commerce. In his earlier years, he proudly served as Scoutmaster in Brownwood, Texas and also in the Free Territory of Trieste (Italy) while serving in the army. He was an Eagle Scout with Bronze, Silver, and Gold Palms, Temple, Texas.