James Langston

James V. Langston,
87, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Langston was born in Clinton, MS on April 15, 1924, son of Volney B. Langston and Hattie Weatherford Langston. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1941, and was awarded a scholarship to play football at Louisiana State University in1941-42.
Mr. Langston enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, and served as an artillery instructor in the Pacific Theater. Following the war, he returned to LSU and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Humble Oil hired Langston following his graduation, and he worked for Humble/Exxon USA for thirty years. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Langston directed Exxon's Headquarters Drilling Group with responsibility for worldwide exploration and production drilling operations. Following his retirement from Exxon, Mr. Langston served as President of Dual Drilling and the Dual Offshore companies. In addition, he formed a drilling consulting group, Arctic Ocean Technology Corporation, leveraging his industry-recognized expertise in the science of drilling for petroleum resources. Mr. Langston was the Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute's Committee on Well Control Practices that published the initial Recommended Practices for Blowout Prevention and Well Control (RP-53), which remains an industry standard for this discipline today. He served as a Councilor, a Trustee, Executive Committee Member and a Nominating Committee Member, to the Texas A & M Research Foundation from 1976 to 2004.
Jim Langston married Clara "Tat" Evangeline Pharr of New Iberia, LA on July 2, 1949. They have two children, James David Langston of Breaux Bridge LA, and Harriet Lynore Langston of Dallas, TX. Mr. and Mrs. Langston resided in New Orleans, Shreveport, Houston, Corpus Christi, and Dallas before retiring to a country life in Oak Vale, MS., the heart of Mr. Langston's family roots. They resided in Oak Vale together until Mrs. Langston's passing on December 3, 2007.
Jim Langston is survived by his son David and his wife Susan Irwin Langston; his daughter Harriet Langston of Dallas, TX; and a sister Jeanell Geiger of Metairie, LA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Michael B. Zeagler and his wife Kelly P. Zeagler of College Station, TX, Amy Begnaud and her husband Brandon of Lake Martin, LA, Katherine Nicholson of Lafayette, LA, Sarah Nicholson of Parks, LA; four great-grandchildren, Evangeline June Zeagler, Blaise Anthony and Brandt Michael Begnaud, Zoie Rene Nicholson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Langston was predeceased by his wife, Clara "Tat" Langston, his parents, Volney and Hattie Langston, his brother, Carlos C. Langston, and a sister Clydel L. Burford.
Jim Langston was an active member and Deacon in the Baptist Church.
Services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m., on November 18 at Saulters-Moore Funeral Home in Prentiss, MS with viewing beginning at 11:30 a.m. Interment at Society Hill Cemetery will follow the services.