88R8609 EME-D
By: Hughes S.R. No. 15
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the
passing of Curtis Williams Mewbourne of Tyler on June 23, 2022, at
the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, The son of Ruth and Curtis Mewbourne, Mr. Mewbourne
was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on November 14, 1935, and he grew
up with a brother, Tom; he enjoyed a wonderful childhood, working on
his parents' ranch, visiting his grandmother in New Orleans, and
working dogs and hunting quail; a gifted athlete, he helped win a
state title in track, and he played quarterback for the 1953 state
championship football team at Byrd High School; as a student there,
he met the love of his life, the former Joanne Zaenglein; the couple
married on March 7, 1959, and they shared a fulfilling union that
spanned more than six decades; he took great pride in their
daughters, Dorothy, Ruth, and Julie, and their grandchildren,
Cameron, Kirby, Morgan, Hale, Anna, Merritte, Williams, and
Griffin; and
WHEREAS, In 1957, Mr. Mewbourne earned a degree in petroleum
engineering at the University of Oklahoma, where he joined the Phi
Gamma Delta fraternity, and he went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a
second lieutenant with the Arlington National Cemetery honor guard;
he subsequently embarked on a successful career in the oil
industry, working with Arkansas Fuel Oil Company in Shreveport and
later with First National Bank in Dallas; in 1965, he established
Mewbourne Oil Company, and the business grew to become one of the
largest privately owned oil and gas companies in the nation, as well
as the top supporter of student scholarships and internships at OU
in the past 25 years; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of Mr. Mewbourne's accomplishments,
OU named the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy and the Mewbourne
School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering in his honor; his
other accolades include the Distinguished Service Award from the
Texas Oil and Gas Association, the Top Hand award from the Permian
Basin Petroleum Association, the Trailblazer award from OU, and an
honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from OU; moreover, he endowed
seven Mewbourne Chairs in Petroleum Engineering and the Mewbourne
Professorship in Petroleum Engineering at the university; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mewbourne moved with his family to Tyler in
1971, and he gave of his time and resources to benefit All Saints
Episcopal School, St. John's School in Houston, the music
department at Tyler Junior College, Methodist Children's Home, the
Salvation Army, and PATH Junior Achievement, among other
organizations; he was also a longtime member of Marvin United
Methodist Church; above all else, he delighted in spending time
with his loved ones, and he especially liked hosting Thanksgiving
celebrations at his Lazy M ranch in Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Curtis Mewbourne lived a life that was rich in
personal and professional achievements, and he will forever be a
source of inspiration to those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby pay tribute to the memory of Curtis Williams Mewbourne and
extend sincere sympathy to all 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 Senate adjourns this
day, it do so in memory of Curtis Mewbourne.