Michael “Mike” Robert Conwell, 63, of Beaumont, died Friday, November 28, 2014, after a lengthy illness. He was born to Martha Ann Conwell and Robert E. Conwell in Shreveport, Louisiana. The family moved to Corpus Christi soon thereafter where he lived until attending UT in Austin.
Mike graduated from UT at Austin with a B.B.A. in International Finance and a minor in Spanish. He received his Masters in International Management with honors from the American Graduate School of International Management, (formerly known as Thunderbird, Glendale, Arizona). He is also a graduate of the Colorado School of International Banking. He was the recipient of the “E Star” Award for Export Excellence from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
He was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and traveled extensively throughout Central and South America as a financial consultant in business planning, trade and marketing, and judicial and public reform. Mike was also instrumental in lobbying for Pro-NAFTA while employed by Hibernia National Bank in San Antonio. He was also transferred to Tokyo, Japan, and The Republic of Singapore as branch manager of the First City National Bank between 1981 and 1986, before returning to Houston.Later, he relocated his family to Beaumont as a branch manager of Community Bank.
Mike served on numerous international and economic development boards during his career and was well respected throughout the financial and trade industries. He initiated a Sister City trade relationship with Beppu, Japan, as Beaumont’s Sister City. He traveled to Beppu, Japan, on several occasions leading an entourage of American bankers and financial advisers.
He was an enthusiastic Longhorn supporter and loved all sports. His true passion was golf and he enjoyed a low, single-digit handicap on the links. Wherever he travelled, locally or overseas, he took his “sticks” with him and teed-up on nearly every latitude and longitude on earth with clients and friends.
Mike had a boundless sense of humor and loved Willie, Waylon and the boys. Yes, he’s been to Lukenbach, Texas. His wit and charm will be missed by many.
He is survived by his mother, Martha Conwell; daughters, Cristina L. Wilkinson and her husband, Ross Wilkinson, and Ashley E. Tortorice and her husband, Tony Tortorice, Jr.; grandson, Salvadore Jude Tortorice; sister, Kelly Leaning and her husband, Kevin Leaning, all of Houston; brother,Dean E. Conwell of Beaumont; nephews, Christopher Conwell, his wife, Lindsey, and daughter, Finley, of Dallas; Alex Conwell of Kansas City, Missouri.
Mike is preceded in death by his father, Robert E. Conwell.
A gathering of Mr. Conwell’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 1, 2014, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 6825 Gladys Avenue, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
