81R17619 JGH-D
By: Keffer H.R. No. 1153
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family, friends, and colleagues are mourning the
loss of Lloyd Franklin Pitts of Dallas, who died on March 16, 2009,
at the age of 98; and
WHEREAS, Frank Pitts was born in Wesson, Mississippi, on
October 7, 1910, to Addie Mae Sandifer and John Loyd Pitts; after
graduating from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson in 1930,
he attended Northwestern University; and
WHEREAS, In 1935, Mr. Pitts married the former Mary Martha
McCann, and the couple shared a fulfilling life together for 58
years, until Mrs. McCann's death in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts began his working life with the Nu-Enamel
Paint Company of Chicago; from 1934 to 1937, he opened paint stores
for the company across Europe, and at the age of 29 he was made
president of the international company; his witnessing of the rise
of fascism in Italy and Germany during those years instilled in him
an intense love of the freedoms of his own nation; and
WHEREAS, Returning to the United States, Mr. Pitts became an
independent oilman, and he was a leader in the petroleum and natural
gas industry for nearly 70 years; he founded the Pitts Oil Company,
an oil and gas exploration services firm that continues to this day;
for 12 years, he was also the chief executive officer of an
international geophysical company; over the course of his
remarkable career, he participated in the drilling of more than
3,000 wells; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts benefited his professional community
through his work as president of the Texas Independent Producers
and Royalty Owners Association for two terms and as chair of the
Industry Forum of the American Petroleum Institute; he served under
every secretary of the Department of Energy since 1977 as a member
of the National Petroleum Council, and he was appointed to the
Natural Gas Committee of the Independent Petroleum Association of
America and to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission; he was
also a dynamic representative of the industry before state and
national governmental bodies; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding entrepreneur was often honored for
his contributions to the petroleum industry; he received the Chief
Roughneck Award from the IPAA, the Pioneer of the Year Award from
the Texas Railroad Commission, the Legend Award from the Texas
Alliance of Energy Producers, the Mr. TIPRO Award, and the John
Rogers Award from the Southwestern Legal Foundation, among many
others; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pitts contributed generously to his community as
well; he helped found and served as chair of the Dallas Council on
World Affairs, earning the council's H. Neil Mallon Award for
Distinguished Civic Service; he played a role in the formation of
the Dallas Opera, and he served as chair and executive committee
member of the Baylor University Medical Foundation and as a member
of the board of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist
University; moreover, he endowed four SMU presidential
scholarships, a scholars fund, and a lecture series on oil and gas;
in addition, Mr. Pitts was president of the Park Cities Rotary Club,
a member of the Dallas Citizens Council, and a longtime member and
deacon of Park Cities Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Throughout a full and productive life, Frank Pitts
dedicated himself to his family, his career, and his community, and
the loved ones he leaves behind can take great pride in his
remarkable legacy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lloyd Franklin Pitts
and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his
daughter, Linda, and her husband, William A. Custard; to his
grandchildren, W. Allen Custard III and his wife, Mason, Martha E.
Custard, Laura Custard Hurt and her husband, G. Ellison Hurt III; to
his brother, Troy N. Pitts; to his sister-in-law, Ida M. Olson; to
his cousin, Dr. Charles L. Lloyd, Jr., and his wife, Sandy; to his
four great-grandchildren; and to his other relatives and friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in honor of Lloyd
Franklin Pitts.