A pair of Columbia High School graduates — nine years apart in age — passed away recently, both far too soon. Andre’ Devol Baldridge of West Columbia died at the relatively young age of 61 on February 15, 2024, while David Lee Doolan, 70, of Brazoria, “was guided into the arms of the Lord” on February 19, 2024, as was written in his obituary in the weekend edition of The Facts newspaper. Doolan graduated from CHS with the Class of 1972 while Baldridge was a 1981 Columbia High grad.
“Cool Lou” Baldridge was the quarterback for the Roughnecks his senior year in the 1980 varsity football season at Columbia High. He also played varsity basketball for Head Coach Calvin Phillips, who was a classmate of David Doolan’s and a former principal at West Columbia Junior High School on the campus the Columbia Heritage Foundation now operates. Andre’ Baldridge was on the varsity basketball team in both his junior and senior years at CHS and was a manager on the Roughnecks’ varsity boys track team that boasted state champions in 1980.
“Doo” Doolan worked as a boilermaker/welder at Dow Chemical in the Brazosport area after high school. The longtime resident of Brazoria was a Dow retiree at the time of his passing.
Funeral services for Andre’ Baldridge were conducted Saturday morning, February 24th, at Blue Run Baptist Church in West Columbia. His fellow 1981 CHS graduate Rev. Bobby Crump, who won gold medals at the state track meet in Austin for the Roughnecks when “Cool Lou” was track team manager, officiated the service for his lifelong friend along with Rev. Arthur Ferguson.
Andre’ was born in New Gulf, Texas, on September 19, 1962, the son of Alma Hobbs-Spears and the late Sherman Baldridge Jr. After high school Andre’ attended the University of Houston. The bulk of his post-college professional career was spent in the hospitality industry. He worked for Columbia Lakes Resort and later joined the Sweet Water Country Club in Sugar Land where he worked for over 30 years.
David Lee Doolan was born in Freeport, Texas, on September 1, 1953, the son of George Raymond Doolan and Evelyn Blank Doolan. Among his survivors are his son, Russell Doolan, and wife Sarah Jean Sunshine of Aurora, Colorado; his two grandchildren; and his sisters, Janet Doolan Wells and husband Michael of Houston and Tina Doolan Phillips and husband Vernon of West Columbia. David was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Cindy Lynne Doolan; his parents, George and Evelyn Doolan; and his sister, Teresa.
Funeral services for David Lee Doolan will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, 634 S. Columbia Drive, in West Columbia. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Monday, February 26th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Baker’s Funeral Home. Interment is slated to follow Tuesday’s funeral at Brazoria Cemetery.
The Doolan family requests that donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in David Lee Doolan’s memory at https://www.stjude.org/
Andre’ Devol Baldridge is survived by his mother, Alma Hobbs-Spears of West Columbia; sisters, Cynthia Baldridge of West Columbia and Kathy Davis of Spring; brothers, Vincent Baldridge and wife Noella of Houston, Sherman Baldridge III of Santa Fe, Texas, Geoffrey Baldridge of West Columbia, Sherman Omar Baldridge and wife DaNisha of Needville, and Kenny Lewis of West Columbia; aunts, Dora Hobbs-Culberson of West Columbia, Gloria Hobbs of The Bronx, New York, and Vallie Baldridge of West Columbia; uncles, Tom Baldridge and wife Bessie of West Columbia, and Willie Culberson of Smithville, Texas.
All graduates of Columbia High School say a prayer for our two fallen fellow alumni. May they both rest in peace!
