Jerry Edmond Chiles

An entrepreneur, a patriot, and a UT Longhorn is how he described himself. Jerry Edmond Chiles was born on the 20th of April 1943, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, because Seagraves, Texas didn't have a hospital.
Jerry and his family lived in Seagraves until 1949 when his family moved to Midland. He was the only son of Wilma Klein and H.E. "Eddie" Chiles. Jerry and his parents moved to Fort Worth for his senior year and where he graduated from Arlington High School.

Although both of Jerry's parents graduated from the University of Oklahoma, Jerry attended the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with honors in Petroleum Land Management in 1965. Recognized for the leader he was, Jerry was elected to the Student Assembly and President of the Business School's Student Council. He was named an Outstanding Freshman, Outstanding Advisor of the Freshman Council, and he was one of ten Outstanding Seniors in the Business School. Jerry was an officer of the Sigma Nu social fraternity and member of Sigma Iota Epsilon and Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary business fraternities). He was in the naval ROTC.

Upon graduation from UT, Jerry received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He served two years as an Ensign and a Lieutenant JG (Junior Grade) and four years in the Naval Reserve. His active duty was spent in Hawaii, at the Fleet Operations Command Center for the Pacific Fleet where he worked on several top secret projects related to the Vietnam War.

After his release from active duty in 1967, Jerry joined Arthur Andersen and Company as part of their new business consulting group. In 1970, he joined Western Oceanic, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Western Company of North America, as Vice President of Marketing and Sales. While there, he commissioned a market study that pointed towards the building of semi-submersible rigs to target the just-developing North Sea market. He convinced his management to pursue this line of business, which proved to be a successful move. When financing became an issue, he argued to the U.S. Maritime Administration that the rigs were "vessels" and, therefore, qualified for a financial guarantee under Title XI of the Maritime Act. The "Western Pacesetter I" was the first of many rigs financed by this method.

In 1975, at the age of 31, Jerry left Western to form Houston Offshore International. His rig, "Sabine I", became the first jack-up rig to be financed with a MARAD Title XI guarantee. He also conceived of the idea of raising capital for drilling rigs through the use of Limited Partnerships. So successful was this device that others copied it, and it was widely used in the late 70's and 80's. HOI eventually built and managed the operation of seven jack-up drilling rigs in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. While in the drilling business, Jerry was on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Drilling Contractors and Chairman of the local Houston chapter.

In the late 1980s, Jerry sold the offshore drilling rigs and entered the thoroughbred horse breeding business under the name, Ironwater Farms Joint Venture. At the peak of this operation he had as many as 22 broodmares. He would sell most of the yearlings, but Jerry would also race some homebreds in Texas, Louisiana, New York, Kentucky and Florida.

Jerry met Emily, his wife of eighteen years, after a friend suggested Emily do "a little decorating" for Jerry; they wed nine years later. They married in their garden next door to their beautifully decorated home in Stablewood.

Jerry remained an enthusiastic supporter of the University of Texas, especially its football team. He was also a member of its Chancellor's Council and several other UT societies. He was a member of numerous committees of the National Republican Party and was a member of Houston's River Oaks Country Club and The Houstonian. He was also active in the Space City Ski Club and Cadre', a men's social club.

Jerry's health became a serious issue in 1996, and in 1998 he received a liver transplant. After receiving this lifesaving gift, Jerry and Emily traveled a great deal. Besides going to Austin for football games, they went to see their horses run, and sometimes win. Some of their other favorite destinations were Hawaii, Scottsdale, Arizona and lately, cruising the Mediterranean.

About three years ago, Jerry's health, once again, began to decline, and, June 30th, at the age of 75, Jerry died at his home. He is survived by his devoted wife, Emily Jane Pavlovic; his sister, Carol Ann Chiles Ballard and her husband, Les Ballard; his niece, Leslie Ballard Hull and her husband Mark, and their daughter, Katherine, also of Houston. Jerry acquired seven more nieces and nephews when he married Emily: Russell Nolen and wife Gabrielle; Sebastian Turullols and wife, Erin; Andy Nolen and wife, Julie; James Fagan and wife, Amy; Katie Pavlovic and husband, Cody Taylor; Peggy Pavlovic and husband Joel Ross, and Anne Pavlovic. He also had numerous cousins, mostly in Houston, and many great nieces and nephews.

A private interment was conducted on the 11th of July at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

A memorial service celebrating his life is to be conducted at five o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 26th of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to The Life Gift Donation Center at 2510 Westridge St., Houston, TX 77054; or to The University of Texas.