Local Businessman Sidney Brewer Cherishes Giving Back to Aldine ISD

Sidney Brewer was educated in Aldine, his children were educated in Aldine, and now his grandchildren are educated in Aldine ISD.

That’s why the likable Brewer believes it’s important that he gives back to the school district that has meant so much to him over the last six decades.

Sidney Brewer, center, poses with his team members during the 8th annual M.B. “Sonny” Donaldson Golf Tournament last December.

After a 20-year career as a mechanical engineer with Occidental Petroleum, Brewer decided to run his own business and, in 1988, opened Tiger Rock Martial Arts of Houston, located at 7303 Antoine Drive.

Brewer is an eighth degree black belt and a Grandmaster. He became interested in martial arts at the age of 12 when his father, a member of the U.S. Army who taught at Ranger School at Fort Benning, GA, began teaching him martial arts.

Brewer developed a passion for it, and when he enrolled at Prairie View A&M in 1976, he began training with two other students. “I’ve been training ever since,” Brewer said.

Brewer graduated from Eisenhower High School in 1976, the first graduating class in the history of Eisenhower.

He said his clients range from four years of age to folks in their 60s.

“People want to learn effective self-defense, and that’s what we teach them.”

In 1996, he started volunteering at Anderson Academy, and he has continued to give of his time and resources throughout Aldine ISD.

He is a founding board member of the Aldine Education Foundation (AEF) and has served as the M.B. “Sonny” Donaldson Golf Tournament chairman for eight consecutive years. The tournament is one of the major fundraisers for AEF.

When asked why he devotes so much time to Aldine, he had a simple answer.

“Plain and simple, to make a difference,” Brewer said.

In addition to volunteering with AEF, Brewer has served as a speaker at many career days CHICKEN Club events and mentors students of various ages.

“When Dad got out of the service, we moved to Houston and Acres Homes, and there was a minister in our neighborhood who would check on our grades and how we were doing in school. If you were struggling in a subject, he’d say, “Can’t we do better?” That was good motivation.”

Brewer does the same with Aldine students today.

Principals and assistant principals at several AISD schools have Brewer’s cell phone number and use it when a student may need an outside voice to motivate them.

“It’s fun to change attitudes,” he said.

He keeps a list of students he mentored who have gone on to college or have joined the military on his cell phone and relishes it when he adds a name to it.

Brewer’s three children are all Aldine ISD graduates. Two of his children graduated from Eisenhower High, and one graduated from Carver High. He has three grandchildren who attend Houston Academy, Anderson Elementary, and Reece Academy.

As a member of AEF, Brewer said he takes great delight when AISD seniors receive their AEF scholarships each May.

“It’s a great pleasure to see the eyes of those kids when they are getting their scholarships,” Brewer said. “It makes all the work worthwhile.”

Brewer, whose wife Brenda was a teacher and is now a counselor at Aldine High School, said he would continue giving his time to Aldine.

“It’s (volunteering) a way of life for me, helping kids,” Brewer said. “It’s a livelihood that I get a lot of pleasure out of.”

Aldine ISD is undoubtedly lucky to have Sidney Brewer.