JAMES MATTHEW (MATT) ALEXANDER
1972-2016
James Matthew (Matt) Alexander, 43, beloved husband, father, and son, passed away on March 4, 2016. Matt was born in Fort Worth, Texas on July 2, 1972 to John and Suzanne Alexander.
Matt was a devoted family man, “Mayor” of every street he lived on, and the first person to volunteer to help a friend or a stranger. People gravitated toward Matt’s fun-loving nature; he was the organizer of barbecues, happy hours, football nights, and bourbon tastings. Matt enriched the lives of everyone he encountered and was always ready with a wry grin, snappy retort, or a generous hug.
Matt was a proud alumnus of Sharpstown High School in Houston, Texas Tech University, and Houston Baptist University. His career in sports media began with operating the Astrodome’s manual scoreboard through 3 Houston Astros National League Central division titles. Matt provided game updates and statistics for SportsTicker for the Astros and Rockets, coordinated the stats computer for the University of Houston, and operated the scoreboard at Houston Baptist games during that same timespan. He interned in the University of Houston Media Relations/Sport Information office and later with the Houston Rockets. He was a writer and editor at College Sports News before serving as a sports information director at Southeastern Louisiana University. Matt joined Star Solutions, Inc., a privatelyheld chemical company, in 2014; he became Chief Executive Officer in 2015. Despite his many professional accomplishments, Matt was first and foremost a family man, and spent nine years as a stay-at-home dad caring full-time for his two boys.
Matt was a true Texan with deep appreciation for the fine art of barbecue. When asked which restaurant was his favorite, he wouldn’t answer quickly but instead helpfully instructed people on the Texas Trinity of brisket from Franklin’s, the beef rib from Louis Mueller’s, and sausage from Hays County. Matt was also a grilling and smoking savant whose ribs were legend among his friends.
It would be an understatement to simply say that Matt loved sports. Whether watching, playing, or discussing it, Matt was all about the game and could quote sports scores from games that occurred before he was born. A passionate Seahawks fan, he was often spotted wearing his jersey and sipping from his World Champion cup. His favorite season of the year was March Madness, and he loved rooting for the 12th-seed underdog to “cover the secondhalf over”. Matt was a great golfer, but never let people know it or judged those who weren’t. For him, the sport – like life – was more about the people: making connections and building relationships on the course.
Matt was the best of us and his absence will be keenly felt the rest of our lives. In every breath and every word we hear his name… because he’s so smooth.
Matt and his beloved son Jackson will be deeply missed, but they live on in the hearts of Matt’s beloved wife Jennifer and his son Daniel, his parents John and Suzanne Alexander of Fort Worth, his grandmother Mildred McAllister of Fort Worth, his brother Mike Alexander of Florida, Jennifer’s parents, Howard and Linda McCollum, an extensive family of loving aunts, uncles, a niece, 4 nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to the African Children’s Choir or First Tee Austin. Arrangements are under the care of Beck Funeral Home and memorial services are being privately coordinated by the family. www.beckchapels.com