Malcolm Brachman, 78; Physicist, Businessman, Bridge Champion

Malcolm K. Brachman, 78, a nuclear physicist who became wealthy in the Texas oil business but was also well-known among bridge enthusiasts as a leading tournament player, died Jan. 11 of pancreatic cancer at his daughter’s home in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Brachman was born in Fort Worth and went to Yale, where he earned his degree in physics.

He received his master’s and PhD in physics at Harvard.

He taught physics at Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago before giving up science to go into his family’s businesses in Texas, which included a life insurance firm and a tool company.

He later founded Northwest Oil Co., a small independent oil production firm.

As a bridge player, Brachman was captain of eight national champion teams and was one of the first players to hire and underwrite six-member squads.

In 1979, his team won the Bermuda Bowl, the world’s top team competition, defeating a team from Italy.

His most recent national title was in 2003.