Houston philanthropist Cullen dead at 84

Roy Cullen and his wife, Mary, are shown in 2011. Roy Cullen and his wife, Mary, are shown in 2011. Photo: Dave Rossman Photo: Dave Rossman Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Houston philanthropist Cullen dead at 84 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Roy Henry Cullen, grandson of Texas wildcat legend Hugh Roy Cullen and longtime president of one of Houston's most prominent charitable foundations, died Friday in his River Oaks home. He was 84.

The Harris County medical examiner has ruled his death a suicide as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Cullen's family members could not be reached for comment. His personal assistant for 35 years, Gayle Chamblee, also declined comment.

The Cullen Foundation was founded in 1947 by Roy Cullen's grandfather with a $160 million endowment, which at the time was one of the largest individual endowments in the U.S.

Roy Cullen served as the foundation's president from 1998 until he stepped down in January, said Sue Alexander, the grant administrator, who declined further comment.

During the last year of his management, the foundation issued more than $12 million in grants for everything from health care to cultural programs. The foundation was ranked fifth among American foundations awarding grants in Houston that year, the Foundation Center in New York reported.

One of Cullen's biggest charitable interests has been finding a cure for Parkinson's disease, his family said. Parkinson's claimed the life of one of his children, according to HoustonChronicle.com's report on his death.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Garcia Cullen, and four children: Roy, Robert, Meredith and Melinda Cullen.

His funeral service is slated for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of St. John the Divine in River Oaks.