George A. Helland

1937 - 2023

George A. Helland
11/28/1937 - 02/24/2023
George Helland was born in San Antonio on November 28, 1937, to Ruth Gorman Helland and George Archibald Helland, inheriting his intellectual curiosity from his mother, and his physical energy from his father. He died of Alzheimer's disease on Friday, 2/24/23.
Growing up in San Antonio, after graduating from Alamo Heights High School he earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin where he became a devoted Longhorn fan. There he was a member of many groups: Tau Beta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Nu, Silver Spurs, Friar Society, and the "T" Association. Later he became a Charter Member of the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of UT's Engineering School and a member of its Advisory Counsel.
In 1961, George earned an MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School, and began a 17-year career at Cameron Iron Works. Starting as a trainee in the stock room, George moved through various management assignments, including plant manager positions in Houston and Leeds, England. He was ultimately named Executive Vice President of Operations in 1977. He had grown to love Cameron where he became a consummate manager and made many lasting friends. There he found a mentor in Herb Allen whom he admired and loved. George participated in Allen's pilot tests of his screw pull invention and loved to tell stories about those tests. George felt a lifetime loyalty to Cameron.
After leaving Cameron, George became President of Weatherford International, and then President of McEvoy Oilfield Equipment. Following a time as President of a subsidiary of McCall Industries, George was appointed Deputy Secretary of Energy in the administration of President George H. W. Bush. During his tenure at DOE, hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait were set on fire, and George assumed the U.S. government's role in managing that disaster. In short order, he drafted the Texas oil well control teams of Red Adair, Boots and Coots and others to extinguish the fires, a mission which they helped accomplished in record time. After serving at DOE, George was Vice-President of Dresser Industries, managing its businesses in the former Soviet Union, China and Vietnam. Finally, he was a Senior Associate at IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates until his retirement. Over his career, George became an accomplished traveler, handling business in more than 85 countries. As a leader in oilfield equipment manufacturing, he was an enthusiastic participant in the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association among other professional organizations.
George was a lifelong Presbyterian, serving as a Ruling Elder and Trustee of St. Philip Presbyterian Church. In addition, he was active in the community as a devoted board member of the Briarwood School, the Brookwood Community and Junior Achievement International. He also served as a trustee of The Eurasia Foundation, and as an advisory trustee of the Southwest Research Institute.
George Helland was a gentle man who loved life, especially early morning exercise at the Houstonian, bicycling, pheasant shoots in Scotland, bread making, and cooking for his family and friends. Another enthusiasm was George's remembrance of friends and acquaintances on their birthdays. As a youngster, he enjoyed collecting friends' phone numbers. Later in life, he kept a data bank of birthdays, and friends grew to expect his annual call saying, "Happy birthday." George was a calm, steady father, grandfather, husband and friend - ever loyal to his family, friends, and co-workers. The world was a better place for having him.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Antonia Day Helland; his former wife, Josephine Howell Helland; daughter Elizabeth Helland Johnston and son-in-law Patrick Bolger Johnston of Portland; son Thomas Gorman Helland and daughter-in-law Stephanie Cone Helland of Atlanta; sister Linda Helland Bowsher and brother-in-law Robert T. Bowsher of Baton Rouge; and brother-in-law Jonathan Day and wife Barbara Thompson Day of Houston. Survivors also include step-children, Mary Scott Hagle and husband Daniel Kornberg; George Hagle III and wife Paige Burnett Hagle; and grandchildren Luke Carmichael Johnston, Rory Helland Johnston, Alison Simmons, Eleanor-Day Hagle Kornberg, Anna-William Hagle Kornberg, Emma Scott Hagle, and George Hagle IV.
George's family wishes to publicly appreciate the wonderful care he received over many years from Celia Gonzales, Tomas Esqueda, Gerard Warner, and Jan Roca. George's service will occur at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe, 77056, at 11:00am on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Memorial gifts may be made to The Brookwood Community, 1752 FM 1489, Brookshire, Tx., 77423 or to St. Philip Presbyterian Church.