John L. Cox

1925 - 2003

John L. Cox, 78, U.S. Navy veteran and longtime contributor to the oil industry, passed away Friday, July 11, 2003, after a long illness related to a stroke.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Jerry Hilton and Dr. Ray Riddle officiating.

Memorials: may be directed to the charity of one's choice.

John L. Cox was born Jan. 11, 1925, in Burkburnett to Fred H. and Mary Scott Cox. He was a 1942 graduate of Junction High School and a 1945 graduate of Rice University. He was also a graduate of Columbia Midshipman School and served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy.

After World War II, he began his career in the Permian Basin for Stanolind Oil and Gas in Wink. He later became an employee of Ted Weiner in Midland until 1952, and remained active managing his own oil operation until the onset of his illness in 1998.

He is credited with being a major influence in the development of drilling and completion expertise that has made the Spraberry Trend a productive mainstay in the Permian Basin for more than half a century.

Since 1952, he drilled more than 2,500 wells in West Texas, South Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming and North Dakota, with offices in Midland, Big Lake and Oklahoma City.

He served on the Board of Governors at Rice for a decade and as a trustee from 1982 to 1994. He received the gold medal from the Rice Alumni Association in 1985 and the High Flight Award from the Rice Athletic Department. In 1994, he was awarded both the Distinguished Owl and the Distinguished "R" Person.

He was selected to be the 16th recipient of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association's Top Hand Award in 1995, and was inducted into the All-American Wildcatters Organization in 1996. In 1998, he was selected honoree of the Permian Basin Oil Show because of his longtime contribution to the oil industry. He also served as chairman of the board of trustees of Scott and White Foundation.

His favorite pastimes were supporting Rice athletic activities and playing golf. He was past director of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA).

Survivors: His wife of 53 years, Maurine Treadwell Cox; children, Kelly Cox and wife, Lynn Cox and Carolyn Cox; grandchildren, Ashley, Danielle and Elizabeth Cox and Jaden and Derrick Berry; sister, Freddie Ashby; and brother, James R. Cox.