85R14521 BK-D
By: Darby H.R. No. 859
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The city of San Angelo lost one of its most admired
and influential community leaders with the passing of Frank M. Pool
on January 12, 2017, at the age of 98; and
WHEREAS, Born in Hill County, near Grandview, on August 29,
1918, Frank Pool was the son of Francis Marion and Elizabeth Morrow
Pool; he grew up in Waco, where he developed a strong work ethic
from a young age, and he went on to receive a degree in petroleum
engineering from Texas A&M University in 1941; while there, he was
recognized as a distinguished student and served as a member of the
Corps of Cadets; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pool briefly worked for Humble Oil before being
called to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II; as a
platoon leader in the First Armored Division, he fought against
German forces in North Africa, and he was later deployed to Europe
as a captain and company commander with responsibility for 400 men
and 44 tanks; he and his troops saw heavy combat during the Allied
advance on Germany, and for his valorous efforts, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and
two Purple Hearts; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Pool met and began a whirlwind romance with the
love of his life, the former Elizabeth Hughes, while he was
temporarily in the United States between wartime deployments; the
couple exchanged wedding vows on February 16, 1946, and enjoyed 66
years of marriage before Mrs. Pool passed away; they were blessed
with three children, Frank, Mary Ellen, and Martha, and they took
great pride in watching their family grow to include many
grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, In 1948, Mr. Pool and his wife moved to San Angelo,
where he founded Pool Well Servicing Company; this marked the
beginning of a long and prosperous career in the energy business,
which showcased his engineering skill and considerable creativity
as he sought new ways of exploring for oil and gas; his company
eventually became a giant in the industry, with more than 1,000 rigs
located in the United States and over 20 foreign countries; he
served the firm as president from 1948 to 1978 and then as managing
director and president emeritus until 1995, and he continued to act
as an oil industry consultant into the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, A leader in his profession and his community,
Mr. Pool contributed his time and expertise as a member of the
Petroleum Engineering Industry Board at Texas A&M and served on the
boards of San Angelo National Bank and Texas Commerce Bancshares,
among numerous other businesses and organizations; he was a strong
advocate for integration during his tenure as president of the San
Angelo Board of Education from 1954 to 1959, and he also served on
the State Board of Education; in recognition of his wide-ranging
volunteer efforts, he was named San Angelo's Citizen of the Year in
2007; and
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his faith, Mr. Pool was a longtime
member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and taught
a Sunday school class; in his free time, he enjoyed playing golf,
hunting, fishing, traveling, and cheering for the Aggies; more than
anything else, he treasured the time he spent with his family, and
some of his happiest memories involved welcoming friends and loved
ones to the beautiful mountain home that he and his wife shared in
Lake City, Colorado, his favorite place on earth; and
WHEREAS, Frank Pool built a life that was extraordinarily
rich in accomplishments and in meaningful service to others, and
although he is deeply missed, he will always be remembered with the
greatest respect and affection by all who had the good fortune to
know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Frank M. Pool and
extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; 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 memory of Frank Pool.