Lester Wilkonson Obituary

Wilkonson, Lester, 95, Petroleum Engineer, died Monday, December 26, 2005. Viewing will be Thursday, December 29, 8:00 A.M. ~ 1:00 P.M, and the memorial service will be at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, January 5, 2006, both at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East. Lester graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1933 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma in 1910, Lester was the eighth and last surviving child of Arthur and Kate Wilkonson. Skilled in all aspects of the oil and gas business, Lester worked as a roustabout and petroleum engineer in Oklahoma and Wyoming. He served as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. Lester and his family moved to Wichita in 1950 and he established a practice as an independent petroleum engineer. He became an expert in the Hugoton Gas Field in Western Kansas and in addition to his own development activities in Hugoton and other areas, Lester applied his expertise as a consultant to the Conservation Division of the Kansas Corporation Commission for many years. Lester was a registered professional engineer in the states of Kansas and Oklahoma, a 55 year Legion of Honor Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and a retired member of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association. In addition to his professional activities, Lester was very philanthropically inclined and made substantial gifts to his alma mater for athletics and for the endowment of a Chair in the OU College of Engineering. He also established a fund with the Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation for cancer research in honor of his wife of 37 years, Maizie, who died of the disease in 1973. Lester also made contributions for other educational, health and physical and mental disability purposes. Further, he helped many individuals over the years by giving students funds for school expenses and other personal needs. Lester's contributions touched many lives in the Wichita Community in a positive way. Survivors include a son, Arthur and grandchildren, Scott and Kate, all of Denver, Colorado. A memorial has been established with Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation, 3306 E. Central, Wichita, KS, 67208. Downing & Lahey Mortuary East. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.downingandlahey.com

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Published by Wichita Eagle from Dec. 29, 2005 to Jan. 4, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Lester Wilkonson

7 Entries

Neil Heeney

January 24, 2006

I was so sorry to hear that Lester had passed away. Lester was a special friend of the University of Oklahoma and the College of Engineering at OU and he will be missed by many. I will personally miss our long conversations and receiving his letters which were always so wonderfully written with that classic Lester wit.

Alan Snider

January 3, 2006

I was working in the Production Department at the KCC when I first met Mr. Wilkonson. He was asked for his expertise on proration of the Hugoton Gas field in SW Kansas. Although not always agreed with by staff, his ideas are playing out with the life of the field. Lester's work and interpretation of the field added much to how the state enables and prorates gas production. His contributions live on in much of our Hugoton field rules. It was a good experience for me to have worked even in a limited way with Lester Wilkonson.

Jake Johnson

December 30, 2005

Mr. Wilkonson was a very generous and interesting man. I always enjoyed our conversations. I hope I can be as generous as he someday.

Jerry Bennett

December 29, 2005

Dear Art and Family,

I had the privilege of working with Les and the honor of calling him a friend. He was a true gentleman and the most exhuberant OU fan I've ever known.

Les was a very caring and giving person who will be truly missed.

Our sincere and heartfelt sympathy go out to you and your family.

Jerry, Pat & Family

David Williams

December 29, 2005

I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Lester for the past seventeen years on Commission matters, mostly relating to the Hugoton and Panoma gas fields in Kansas.

As he was known in the industry by the nickname "Mr. Hugoton" he was a true gentleman and professional who always exhibited integrity and expertise. He was a respected friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

My sincere and deepest sympathy and goes out to his family for their loss.

John McCannon

December 29, 2005

Myself and other Commission staff had the privilege to work with Lester on several matters and to talk with him a number of times about the Hugoton field. Lester was always generous in giving us his time and expertise. He was a real gentleman in every way. All of us at the Commission will miss him.

Paula Dunagan

December 29, 2005

Dear Art and family:

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Lester. The world will not be the same without him. It was truly a privilege to know him and I will miss him immensely, as I have ever since he went to Larksfield, instead of the office right next to me.

The world would surely be a better place if the world had more people like Lester.

With my deepest sympathy to you all, Paula Dunagan

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