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Steve W. Sterquell, 56, of Amarillo died Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in First Presbyterian Church with the Dr. Jim Bankhead and the Rev. Murray Gossett officiating. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St.
Steve graduated in 1974 from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a business degree. He began his practice as a certified public accountant in 1975 in Amarillo.
Steve received the designation of certified public accountant in 1978, and formed the accounting practice, which today is Sterquell Hill & Goelzer, LLP.
Steve founded American Housing Foundation, a Texas nonprofit corporation in 1989 for the purposes of promoting, creating and preserving housing for low to moderate income families and individuals. American Housing Foundation's portfolio currently consists of 14,250 units in nine states and 33 cities.
Steve organized Housing for Texans Foundation, also a non-profit corporation, in 1990, created to develop housing and foster activities that would enhance the lives of those involved.
Steve sold his accounting practice in 1995 to enable him to devote more time to improving the living environment for economically disadvantaged families.
In addition to the Foundation work, Steve had been the developing force in assisting American Housing Foundation acquire 13 properties with tax-exempt bond financing through the Texas State Affordable Housing Corp. The 2,716 apartment units involved are scattered throughout the state of Texas. Recently, Steve had ventured into the affordable senior housing market, helping create 324 units of new affordable housing for seniors.
American Housing Foundation was certified as a community development entity by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2003.
Through its years of experience, the Foundation had realized that a largely underserved group in our communities are the children who have a dream of a college education. It was Steve's desire for the Foundation to turn the dream of a college education into reality and had developed an Educational Opportunity Plan to address that need.
Throughout his years of foundation and accounting work, Steve had taught numerous courses in Taxation, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Estate Planning, Business Structuring, Credit Counseling for Home Ownership and Small Business Development.
Steve and his wife, Marshallette, had been married for 34 years. They had two children and three grandchildren. The Sterquell children also are involved in the day-to-day business and operations.
Additionally, Steve had devoted his time to the following organizations and business:
Board of Directors: Tax Exempt Organization - Goodwill Industries of Amarillo; vice-chairman, chairman and president of Kiwanis Foundation, when they started the neighborhood flag project; founding member of High Plains Food Bank; Golden Spread Council Boy Scouts of America; foundation member and chairman of Children's Miracle Network Telethon; and vice president and president of Downtown Kiwanis Club.
Also, founding member, vice-president and president of Children's Health Foundation; treasurer of Amarillo Little Theatre; treasurer and president of Maverick Boys Club; Jan Werner Adult Day Care Center; Amarillo Community Center; Planned Parenthood; Baylor University Development Foundation; vice-president of St. Andrews Day School, Building Committee; and St. Andrews Church, Search Committee.
And Harrington Discovery Center; Don & Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, Building Committee; St. Anthony's Hospital, Building Committee; Austin Middle School Excellence Council; United Way, Budget Committee; Brush Ranch School; and Tascosa High School, Track Building Committee.
Board of Directors: Governmental - Amarillo Independent School District, Budget Committee; and Potter County Appraisal Review Board.
Board of Directors: Financial - First Federal Savings & Loan.
He received the following awards and honors: the James E. West Felowship Award in 1997 and was an Eagle Scout for the National Boy Scouts of America; the William O. Stillman Award for the National Humane Society; Alumnus By Choice from Baylor University, Boy Scout Heritage Society Lifetime Member of Golden Spread Boy Scouts of America; and a lifetime member of Kiwanis International.
Survivors include his wife, Marshallette S. Sterquell; two children, Steve W. Sterquell II and wife Holly and Elizabeth A. Bunn and husband Larry D., all of Amarillo; three grandchildren, Katherine R. Sterquell, Luke W. Sterquell and Benjamin C. Bunn; his mother, Betty W. Sterquell of Amarillo; a brother, John C. Sterquell of Dallas; and a sister, Vicki S. Sterquell of Houston.
The family suggests memorials be to National Boy Scouts of America, 401 Tascosa Road, Amarillo, TX 79124-1515; or a favorite charity.
Sign the online guest book at www.schoolerfuneralhome.com.
Amarillo Globe-News, April 3, 2009
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