Lamar Gene Urbanovsky

Lamar Gene Urbanovsky was born in Bryan, Texas to Frank J. Urbanovsky and Olga M. (Regmund) Urbanovsky, the third of four boys, on September 21, 1946. He attended Bryan Public School and graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1965. Lamar went on to be the first of the family to receive a college degree, his Bachelor of Science in Construction Science in 1969, and his Master of Architecture in Construction Management in 1972, both from Texas A&M University. He was proud of family that graduated from Texas A&M, above all, his daughter.

Lamar met the love of his life, Darlene Joyce Fillip, on a church hayride which led to their first date at an SPJST dance. They were married at Caldwell Brethren Church on June 7, 1969. They moved to the Austin area in 1973 and have lived in Round Rock since 1989. Lamar and Darlene have one daughter Lynette Marie (Urbanovsky) Shimek and their son-in-law, Kevin James Shimek of College Station, Texas. Lamar and Darlene also were honored to have three Godchildren, Rhonda Lynn (Urbanovsky) Michalkowski, Donald Wayne Urbanovsky, and Jestin “Jess” James Junek. Lamar was very proud of all of them.

After graduating with the undergraduate degree, Lamar started his career at the Construction Management Department at Texas A&M in 1969. On April 1,1973, he accepted the position as Director of Planning and Construction for the Texas State University System, where he was promoted as the Interim Director in 1976, the Executive Director from 1978 to 1988, and ultimately to the Chancellor in 1989 until he retired in 2005. Lamar loved his position and always had a heart for seeing students receive degrees in higher education. As Chancellor, Lamar oversaw the third largest university system serving 69,000 students from Texas State University-San Marcos, Lamar University, Sam Houston State University-Huntsville, Angelo State University-San Angelo, Sul Ross State University-Alpine, Lamar University-Beaumont, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, Lamar State College-Orange, The Lamar Institute of Technology-Beaumont, and the Rio Grande College in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Uvalde.

Lamar served in several groups and organizations including being the Treasurer and Chairman for the Council of Presidents and Chancellors, the Chairman for the Texas Higher Education Formula Advisory Committee, Member of the National Association of System Heads, Audit Committee for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and served as a consultant in building an American Styled University in Morocco. Lamar maintained his State of Texas Architectural License and oversaw several construction projects during and after his retirement as Chancellor with companies such as HOV/Meridian Consulting Group and Westminster Retirement Facility.

Lamar never retired, he took on a new role and passion for serving the Lord. Utilizing his expertise as a Professional Architect, he volunteered for the Brethren Churches in Texas. He would assist with construction projects for his home church at Caldwell Brethren, New Tabor Brethren, and New Beginnings (Cade Lake), a Missionary Church in the Unity of the Brethren.

Lamar was proud of his Czech-Moravian ancestry, and served until his passing on the Board of Directors for the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas where he served on the committee which involved the endowment at Texas A&M University System. He also was a lifetime member of SPJST lodge 39 in Bryan, Texas.

Lamar loved and cherished his family. His favorite place to be with his family was on his land in Bryan where he grew up, and along with his brothers, designed and built a home for his late mother. He loved quail hunting with his friends, playing forty-two dominos, and watching his Fightin’ Texas Aggies in football. Lamar also had a passion for flying airplanes, which aided him while visiting universities as Chancellor. He was also nick-named “Mr. Fix-it” and loved helping family, neighbors, and friends with building projects, plumbing, wood working, and working on cars, tractors, and lawn mowers. His favorite payment was a chocolate pie.

Lamar passed away on July 24, 2025 after a two year courageous battle fighting pancreatic cancer. Lamar is survived by his wife, Darlene J. (Fillip) Urbanovsky, his daughter Lynette and son-in-law Kevin Shimek, his brothers and their spouses, Joe D. and Judy Urbanovsky, Ronald and Mary Ann Urbanovsky, sisters-in-law and their husbands, Lelene and Thomas Kachtik, and Shirley and Eugene Roznos. Lamar is also survived by his nieces and nephews and their spouses along with great and great-great-nieces and nephews: Melissa and Robert “Bobby” Barr, Blane and Bryce; Rhonda and Mike Michalkowski and Emma Lynn; Donald and Danielle Urbanovsky and Dusty, Dakota, Dalton, and Daegyn; Michael and Dawn Urbanovsky; Linda Urbanovsky; Brandy and Tim Kemp and Bennett; Tim and Susan Knesek and Jordan and Brenton Ayers, Devin and Madison Mercer, Hudson, Hadley and Henrietta; Ed and Deborah Kahil, Crystal and Jeremy Baldwin and Maddy; Kevin and Bekie Charanza, Aaron and Laine Charanza, and Hannah Charanza; Charles and Glenda Marino, Joey and Amy Marino and Jonathan Marino and fiancé Sara Quintanilla; Randy and Nannette Ripple, Justin and Tiffany Ripple; Caney and Jennifer Carlton, Joey and Zach; Dameon and Misty Marks, Austin and Aidan. Lamar also survived by his godson Jess Junek and wife Cheryl Junek, along with several cousins and close friends.

Lamar was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Olga Urbanovsky, In-Laws Louis and Vlasta (Dlabay) Fillip, brother and sister-In-Law Frank John and Sue Urbanovsky, and brother-in-law Eugene Roznos.

A visitation service will be held at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas on Friday, August 1, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at The Snook Brethren Church in Snook, Texas. Burial will follow at the Cooks Point Brethren Church Cemetery in Caldwell, Texas.

Lamar was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and will be sorely missed.