Barry J. Galt

BARRY J. GALT, husband, father, friend, and respected business leader died Friday, August 22, 2008 from complications of cancer. Our beloved GranBear was 74 years old. Barry was born December 14, 1933 to Monroe and Ethelyn Galt in Ardmore, Oklahoma. In the fall of 1951, Barry Galt entered the University of Oklahoma on a ROTC scholarship and joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity. As a freshman at OU he met Kathy Moore. They married in 1954. One week ago Barry and Kathy marked their 54th wedding anniversary. After completing his degree in accounting, Barry entered the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He interrupted his legal studies to serve his country as a naval aviator from 1955 to 1958. Barry returned from active duty to complete his legal education. After serving as Law Review Editor, Barry Galt graduated with high honors and was awarded the Order of the Coif. Upon graduation, Barry Galt joined the Conner and Winters law firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1966 he was admitted as a partner in the firm. The highlights of his legal career included helping with the initial public offering of a small, family-owned retail business in Bentonville, Arkansas known as Wal-Mart. Barry left the private practice of law in 1976 to "go straight" as he liked to tell his lawyer friends. At that time, he joined The Williams Companies as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. From 1979 through 1982, Barry served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Williams Companies. In 1983, Barry Galt was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Seagull Energy Corporation. Under his leadership, Seagull grew to be one of the largest independent oil and gas companies in the United States. Through various acquisitions and mergers, the company he worked hard to build became known as Ocean Energy, Inc. After his retirement as CEO, Barry continued to serve as a director of Ocean Energy, Inc. through 2003. In recognition of his leadership abilities, numerous other businesses sought Barry Galt's involvement. He served as a director of Endeavour International Corporation, Trinity Industries, Inc., Standard Insurance Company, Chase Bank, Halter Marine Group, Inc., and Abraxas Petroleum Corporation. Barry also served with distinction in numerous leadership rolls in industry groups, including the American Petroleum Institute and the Independent Petroleum Association. He served as Trustee of Memorial Hospitals in Houston, the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa and St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. Bear also was a director of the Salvation Army in Houston, Houston International Festival, The Tulsa Area United Way and served as Chairman of the Board and Campaign Chairman. He served on the University of Oklahoma Presidential Search Committees from 1978 to 1988. Barry found great joy cheering on his beloved Oklahoma Sooners. Memorial stadium in Norman will be much quieter this fall without the cheers of our GranBear. He loved golf and enjoyed his memberships at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado where he was a charter member, Eldorado Country Club and The Reserve in California, The Royal and Ancient Golf Cub of St. Andrews, Loch Lomond Golf Club in Lus, Scotland, River Oaks Country Club in Houston, and Diamond Creek in North Carolina. Barry served as a committee chairman during the 52nd and 64th P.G.A Championships, the 77th U.S Open, and the 65th U.S. Amateur Championship, all played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa. Although the importance Barry placed on his business career and community involvement is reflected by his many successes and accomplishments, his true treasures were the family members he loved so much. He is survived by his wife Kathy Galt, sister and brother-in-law Martha and Ray Jones, daughters and sons-in-law Terri and Stan Tacker, Carol and Robert Smith and Gayle and Tom Kennedy, grandchildren Brian Tacker and wife Lisa, Galt Tacker, Zach Smith, Hannah Smith, Logan Smith, Andrew Kennedy, Peter Kennedy and Mary Helen Kennedy. As the end of his life neared, Bear said two things that revealed his love for his family. First, in discussing what really mattered to him as he looked back on his very full life, he said, "You can go any place in the world, you can do anything you can imagine, but in the end what really matters is your family." In response to the question of what he thought heaven would be like Barry said, "I have a pretty good idea. I've been married to Kathy for over 50 years." Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o'clock until eight o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 26th of August, 2008, in the Library of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive. A celebration of the life of Barry J. Galt will be held on Wednesday, the 27th of August 2008 at one o'clock in the afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, 5300 Main Street, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Oklahoma Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK, 73019, First Presbyterian Church of Houston, 5300 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77004 or MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210.