Lana Cunningham
“An optimist who charges ahead—that’s what leadership is about. And that is Curtis Mewbourne.”
This description of Curtis W. Mewbourne by a University of Oklahoma professor underscores one of the numerous reasons for his selection as recipient of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association’s Top Hand Award, to be bestowed Jan. 28 at a gala celebration in the Midland Center, Midland, Texas.
Mewbourne took his last paycheck in 1965, venturing onto the road of independents, away from the fast freeway of major oil companies, and never looked back. Mewbourne Oil Company—founded with that last paycheck—has grown into one of the more prominent independent oil and natural gas producers in the Anadarko and Permian Basins of Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, according to the company’s website. Meanwhile, outside of the business, he has focused his attention on education, providing support via numerous channels, including buildings, scholarships, and endowments.
Born in Shreveport, La., in 1935, Mewbourne made his way after high school to the University of Oklahoma, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and was honored as a distinguished graduate. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army, then began his career as a petroleum engineer for various firms in different areas of the oil and gas industry before taking that detour in 1965.
“I was looking for adventure and excitement, and I found it,” he said of his decision, as quoted in an Oct. 5, 2011, article in the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
With his headquarters located in Dallas, Mewbourne opened a district office in Midland, in the old Wilkinson & Foster Building. In the MRT article, Mewbourne said the company had very early success in the Permian Basin, first in New Mexico and then in the Wolfcamp play in Glasscock County. The company expanded offices to Amarillo and Perryton (Texas) and Hobbs (N.M.), as well as Oklahoma City and Woodward (Okla.).
Mewbourne Oil today, “develops oil and natural gas prospects, acquires leasehold interests, and serves as the operator in the drilling, completion, and production of oil and natural gas wells,” the company’s website notes. “Historically, the company has emphasized establishing long-life natural gas reserves through the drilling of medium-depth wells between 3,000 and 13,000 feet. Prospective drill sites generally include field extensions, step-outs, trend plays, and other anomalies that are believed to be contiguous to areas where the presence of oil and natural gas has already been established. The company currently operates over 1,600 wells.”
Mewbourne Oil means more than just a paycheck to its employees. District Exploration Manager Larry Cunningham is chalking up almost 15 years with the Midland Mewbourne office.
“Mewbourne is a wonderful person to work for,” Cunningham said. “He really has both the company’s and the employees’ interests at heart. He seeks to make people part of the endeavor. He is a great leader—we work together, not for someone.”
The founder runs the company on an even keel and looks to the long term in planning. “We’re not worried about layoffs and cutbacks. We’re still drilling wells and seeing prospects,” Cunningham said.
Mewbourne and his wife decided to move to Tyler, Texas, after the birth of their three daughters so the children could grow up in a smaller town.
As the company grew and became more successful, Mewbourne’s interest in giving back to the foundation of his success—education—grew. With his grandchildren attending All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler and St. John’s School in Houston, Mewbourne provided support for buildings and other needed funding. And he’s never forgotten the university that gave him the foundation for his success—Oklahoma University.
His support of OU is lengthy and ongoing. In 1982, he began endowing the Mewbourne Professorship in Petroleum Engineering, the first such endowed position at OU in engineering. According to information on his official bio, Mewbourne, “has been a consistent and strong supporter of the school, its faculty and students through all of the industry’s up and down cycles. Mewbourne Oil Company stands alone as the largest supporter of student scholarships and internships at OU over the past 25 years.” He has endowed six additional Mewbourne Chairs in Petroleum Engineering, the Mewbourne Enrichment Fund, and the Mewbourne Leadership Scholars Program. In May 2000, the University of Oklahoma named the School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering in his honor. He was granted the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002. In November 2007, the university named the College of Earth and Energy in his honor and he was given the Trailblazer Award for his professional achievements and lifetime commitment to the energy industry. A statue of Mewbourne stands in the plaza surrounded by Mewbourne College.
Dr. David Boren, OU president (and former U.S. Senator), wishes he could clone Mewbourne, citing the oilman’s generosity not only in dollars but in advice and support.
“We have never had an alumnus who has done more for the university than Curtis,” Boren said, citing the many financial contributions Mewbourne has made to OU, along with scholarships, professorships, summer research funding, and internships.
The job of university president can be a lonely job, Dr. Boren acknowledged, and he has found a trusting advisor in Mewbourne. “To know you have someone with Curtis’ interest and his spirit and wisdom always available to help you out means so much to me. We always need someone to lean on as far as helping and encouraging me. Curtis is that constant source of encouragement.”
Noting the many hours of service that Mewbourne gives to OU, Boren said, “As a philanthropist, he gives not only of his means but also of his talents. He gives many, many hours of service to the university. Curtis is the kind of donor whose involvement is always constructive, always beneficial, never seeking credit for himself. If I am mulling over something at the college or a student needs an internship, I can pick up the phone and call Curtis and find a solution.
“He is always there to offer encouragement and help to everyone in the college when they need it. Everyone here knows how much he cares about OU, and the university loves him back—everyone from students to staff members to faculty.”
However, it is his personal involvement at OU that makes Mewbourne stand out above other donors.
“He is interested in what goes on at the school and is very active in making it succeed,” said Carl Sondergeld, professor at OU and holder of a Mewbourne Chair. “He wants the school to be number one and with a guy like that behind you, we are trying our hardest.” Other donors may give money and walk away, but not Mewbourne.
The professor, who spent 20 years with Amoco before going into education, said he came to OU because of Mewbourne.
“He is infectious,” Sondergeld said. “He’s larger than life and his enthusiasm is infectious. You can’t not get involved in something he’s involved in.”
Sondergeld cited a number of less-imposing but nonetheless impressive contributions the businessman has made to the school, including the purchase of a scanning electron microscope and funding for student travel to compete in international events, as well as funding for a study-abroad facility in Italy, a drilling simulator, and an undergraduate lab. “I can’t count the number of ways he has helped.”
With the recent increase in students enrolling in petroleum engineering, the classrooms had become too small and Mewbourne helped rectify the situation. “The rooms had been designed for 40 to 50 students, and we went from 40 students to 120 in a class. He paid to have the classrooms altered so we now can have up to 150 students,” Sondergeld said.
Above all, Mewbourne takes a personal interest in the students. The professor recalled an incident in which several students ate lunch with the businessman. When this particular student left, Mewbourne knew his name. “That made all the difference in the world to this student,” Sondergeld said. “Mewbourne is that kind of person. He remembers details even with all the people and students he meets.”
At All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Mewbourne was described as a “transformative benefactor” by Charlotte S. Mullen, M.Ed., director of development.
“His support of our school has played a role in thousands of our students’ and teachers’ lives. Mr. Mewbourne has blessed our school with multiple gifts,” she said. “Mewbourne Hall for Mathematics and Science has provided wonderful facilities for both math and science for our middle and upper school students. The building houses four fully realized science labs and additional classrooms for math.”
She added that the K-3 through sixth grades enjoy the fruits of the Mewbourne Fellowship for Math Enrichment. “The sole purpose of this program is to establish a love of math. We have a dedicated teacher for this program and her learning space is one of the brightest and most enjoyed spaces on our campus.”
The Tyler resident was the lead donor for Mewbourne Field and Fieldhouse, where hundreds of ball games have been played. He also contributed to the million-dollar match for financial aid to help students attend All Saints.
“Mr. Mewbourne has a heart for education,” Ms. Mullen said. “He fully realizes this is the base for future success in life. I deeply value his passion for his family and his philanthropy.”
With grandchildren attending St. John’s School in Houston, Mewbourne also included that institution in his philanthropic giving. As a result, the Mewbourne Hall for Math and Science at St. John’s is a “state-of-the-art, three-story classroom and laboratory building,” according to a St. John’s report. Among its amenities are overhead service carriers to provide necessary gas, vacuum, and electricity for experiments; overhead vents to regulate air quality and safety; an audiovisual system with a ceiling-mounted LCD projector; and wireless capability for laptops and data collection software.
“The likes of Mr. Mewbourne do not happen often in this life,” Ms. Mullen added. “What an amazing man.”
Attendees at the Top Hand Event can hear from Mewbourne’s contemporaries, and hear the sentiments of the man himself, when they gather at the Jan. 28 occasion, always a packed affair. For more information as it unfolds, watch pbpa.info, the website of the PBPA.
Lana Cunningham is a freelance writer who has lived in Midland since it was a pleasant city of 60,000 people.