William Albright

1930 - 2016

William Albright
Sep 20, 1930 - Oct 30, 2016
Lafayette
William A. Albright, a retired Chevron executive of 37 years, died Sunday, October 30. He was 86. He was born in Tuscaloosa, AL, to Nellah Belle and Alexander Vandever Albright. He attended the University of Alabama and earned a BS in Geology in 1951. After graduation he enlisted in the US Navy and served during the Korean War on several ships, including the USS Quincy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. While on leave in Honolulu, HI, he met his future wife Mary Holeman. They were wed in 1954. He earned his MS in Geology from Louisiana State University in 1958. After graduation he joined Chevron full-time as a development geologist. Over the next 15 years he worked in the Gulf Coast area in various capacities in development geology, exploration geology and geophysics. In 1973 he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with his family to work with the company's international exploration division ("COPI"). He served COPI in San Francisco as well as in London and worked on projects in Europe, Africa, Russia and China. In 1984-85 he served in Chevron's Corporate Planning and helped facilitate the integration of the merger of Gulf Oil Corporation into Chevron. He finished his career as Chief Development Geologist of Chevron Corporation from 1991 until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Albright was a lifelong fan of his alma mater's football team. He later became an adoptive fan of Stanford football and enjoyed tailgating with old friends for many years. In retirement he shared Mary's passion for Petanque and enjoyed the game and Pastis with friends. Mr. Albright is survived by Mary his wife of 62 years, two sons Bill and Craig, seven grandchildren Colin, Evan, Tucker, Caroline, Annie, Emily and William, and two brothers George and Harold. He asked hospice if he had reached his 62nd wedding anniversary shortly before his death. He was much loved and now sorely missed by family and friends. Services will be announced separately at a later time.


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