William Albert McElduff

1958 - 2018

William Albert McElduff, Jr., age 59, passed away in Houston, Texas with his wife by his bedside on Saturday, March 10, 2018. He was born on October 10, 1958 in Seguin, TX, to William Albert McElduff, Sr. and Patricia (Overbey) McElduff Blanton. On April 27, 1999, he married Luann Jean Nelson. They had one daughter, Madison Grace McElduff. "Maddie" was the single most important thing he ever did, and was his pride and joy.

He talked endlessly about her achievements and about her accomplishments with her horses.

After superlative academic and athletic school years in Amarillo, TX, Bill received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point then went on to graduate from the Colorado School of Mines with a B.Sc. degree in petroleum engineering in 1982. He worked 36 years in the international oil and gas industry, starting in production and drilling engineering then moving to directional drilling. The second half of his career focused on designing and implementing relief wells globally to control blowouts or prevent hydrocarbon leaks to the environment. He started his career in 1982, companies he worked with include: Pioneer Production, Texas, 1982;

Hunt Oil in Yemen, 1986; Sperry Sun in Dubai, 1994; John Wright Company, global, 2000; HTK Consultants in New Zealand, China, Mauritania, 2003; Boots & Coots in Gulf of Mexico; 2009, Partner in Bearco International 2011; and finally Wild Well Control in 2014.

One of the highlights of Bill's career was being a key part of the Control Team for the Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill in 2010. Bill was on the Deep Driller III rig that drilled the relief well for the final control of that disaster. He was on the drill floor for all critical directional work and played a key part in making a successful intersection on the first try with the whole world watching.

Bill was most at peace when he was mowing on his tractor and taking care of the family farms. He loved all sports, but baseball topped his list. Bill's father coached Seguin High School to a state baseball championship the year of Bill's birth. Perhaps this set the tone for Bill's remarkable life. Bill was inducted into the Palo Duro High School Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bill is survived by his wife of 19 years Luann Nelson McElduff and his beloved daughter Madison Grace McElduff; his mother Patricia Overbey McElduff Blanton of Amarillo, TX, and his siblings Phyllis McElduff of Dumas, TX, Mary Jean and Kenny Larkan of Amarillo, TX, Gail and Rob Spurgeon of Dallas, TX. His father, William Albert McElduff, Sr. and his stepfather, Hugh Evans Blanton, preceded Bill in death.

Arrangements by Hardwicke Funeral Home in Clarksville, AR with a graveside service March 19th at 11:00am. at the Lamar Cemetery in Lamar, Arkansas. Luncheon to follow at Methodist Church in Scranton and all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill McElduff are encouraged to PHTR Performance Horse Training and Rehabilitation - P.O. Box 662 Hamilton, GA 31811 or Wells Fargo Bank acct. 9501722822 routing no. 061000227.