In a special called council meeting, Centerville Mayor and Council took to the live stream Monday through the city’s official Facebook page and declared July 27 to be “D. Ronnie Brand Day.”
D. Ronald Brand was a former mayor of Centerville who served four terms on Centerville City Council Post 4 (1989-2003) before resigning to run for the mayor’s seat. His run was successful, and he served as the mayor of Centerville from 2003 until 2005. Brand passed away on Wednesday, July 22.
Getting right to the issue at hand and its importance, Mayor John Harley said, “We have one item on the agenda, and that item is a proclamation for former Mayor Ronnie Brand.”
“I do want to thank you for making this effort to make this proclamation,” Councilman Micheal Evans told the mayor. “We know that Mayor Brand served the city, and we would like to acknowledge his service at this time.”
Upon Mayor Harley’s request, City Clerk Krista Bedingfield shared the wording of the proclamation with the viewing audience.
Doing so, Bedingfield read, “July 27, 2020 proclaimed D. Ronnie Brand Day in the city of Centerville. Whereas D. Ronnie Brand served the city of Centerville as a city councilman from 1989 until 2003; and whereas he served the city of Centerville as the mayor from 2003 until 2005; and whereas D. Ronnie Brand served the city of Centerville with honor, dignity and integrity as both a councilman and as the mayor; and whereas Mayor D. Ronnie Brand served and guided the city during a period of substantial growth in the city; and whereas Mayor D. Ronnie Brand remained a vital part of the city of Centerville following his retirement from the city council; and whereas Mayor D. Ronnie Brand passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2020; then now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and city council of the city of Centerville now proclaim July 27, 2020 as D. Ronnie Brand Day in the city of Centerville to recognize and thank D. Ronnie Brand forhis many years of service to the citizens of Centerville, so proclaimed this 27th Day of July 2020.”
Following the conclusion of the proclamation, Harley said, “He did serve the city very well, and we’re all going to miss him. He was a friend to the city, and he…” Harley’s voice trailed momentarily. He paused, and then added a somber, “What can I say?”
Council voted unanimously to pass the proclamation, and the meeting was adjourned.
In a conversation with Houston Home Journal, Mayor Harley later said that it was around 18 or 19 years ago when he first met Brand. “He was a city councilman at the time,” the mayor recalled. “I had worked for two and a half years as the Centerville City Administrator, and then I quit. After I quit, my wife got sick and she had to go in the hospital for surgery. By then, [Brand] was mayor, and he would actually come up to the hospital and sit with us,” Harley said. “And it was just out of friendship—no other reason. I so admired him for that. He was sensitive toward people. He loved people and was always trying to help somebody.”
Harley said that Brand’s caring heart and his willingness to always extend a helping hand to anyone were the things he would remember most about the former Centerville mayor. “He always had good words for people too,” Harley added. “He was a person who would not say anything bad about somebody. I admire that trait in somebody. I try to be the same way. I’ve tried to do that most of my life, but that’s not a trait that I recognize in a lot of other people. Ronnie Brand had it.”
Centerville Police Chief Jason Jones agreed wholeheartedly. He recalled Brand as simply being a wonderful human being. Jones said he not only had a caring and genuine heart, but Brand also had a lighthearted personality that could lighten moods and make those around him laugh. Brand’s sense of humor is one of the things for which Jones said he would remember him best.
Sharing one memory in particular, Jones said, “I was acting chief when he was mayor, so I was working my way up in the ranks. He would always aggravate me about my haircut, and I’d respond by telling him that he just wished he had one like it,” Jones pointed out “He would always pick at me, but he would end it by saying, ‘It looks good on you. It looks good on you.’ Even up to his final days—I spoke with him just a few weeks ago—he was still picking at my hair. Deep down, I think he was just jealous of it,” Jones added through laughter. “He was a real good guy. We always got along. I respected him and he respected me.”
Commissioner Tommy Stalnaker indicated that former Mayor Brand was key to the groundwork and successful establishment of much of what can currently be seen in the city of Centerville. “He was just an outstanding public servant as a councilman and a mayor. He had the interests of the city of Centerville at heart. He had the people of Centerville at heart. Not only that, but he had people in the entire county at heart.” Describing Brand as “always cooperative” and “always cordial,” Stalnaker went on to say, “He was one of the pillars in the foundation of Centerville that they continue to build on even today.”
“Ronnie absolutely loved the city of Centerville,” Mayor Harley stressed, “and he was just always willing to help in anyway he could … as a councilman, a mayor and even as a private citizen. He would sometimes call me up, and say, ‘Mayor, is there anything I can do to help? Whatever it takes for the city of Centerville, I’ll be there for you.’ He was always that way, and we’re going to miss him.”
According to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home website, visitation for Brand was held on Monday, July 27 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The funeral service was held at 7:30 p.m., also on Monday. Salutes to Brand’s memory and condolences to his family can be left on his Tribute Wall on the memorial home’s webpage.
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