Paul F. Barnhart

Paul F. Barnhart died on the 29th of September, 2007. He was born on the 23rd of November, 1913, in Austin, Texas, to Harry B. Barnhart, Attorney-atLaw, and Nelle Sterzing Barnhart. He is survived by his sons, L. Irvin Barnhart and wife, Wendy, Paul F. Barnhart, Jr. and wife, Karol; daughter, Velda Barnhart Wyche; grandchildren, Paul F. Barnhart III and wife, Katie, Kelly Grace Barnhart, Ginnie Wyche Wilcox and husband, Keith Wilcox, Jr., Robert Wyche, Michael Wyche and wife, Jamie; and five great-grandchildren, Patric Cowan Harvey, Velda Kathryn Harvey, Faith Ann Wilcox, Payten Lynn Wyche, and Miles Jeptha Whyche. He is also survived by his housekeeper of 50 years, Irma Conneur, a true friend and family member. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harry B. Barnhart, and Nelle Sterzing Barnhart; his brother Harry B. Barnhart, Jr., and his wife, the mother of his three children, Virginia Irvin Barnhart; his wife; Katherine Pillot Lee and his wife of more than twenty years, Jean Moore Barnhart. A fifth generation Texan, his forefathers included John W. Smith, the first Mayor of San Antonio. He was a Page in the Texas State House of Representatives at age nine, and at age eleven was Special Page to Journal Clerk; he was an Eagle Scout at age 13 and he was very proud of the fact that he became an Eagle Scout in the shortest time permitted. After graduating from Austin High School in 1931, he spent several years working for his father's company building gas pipelines in Mississippi, from Jackson to Hattisburg. He attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 1937 with a degree in Petroleum Production Engineering. He was the founder of BBM Drilling Company which later merged with Humble Oil and Gas Corporation, now Exxon-Mobil. He was the founder of Barnhart Co., an independent oil company, and cofounder, with his sons, Irvin and Paul, Jr., of Barnhart Interests, Inc., real estate development and investments. He was actively involved in many civic and professional organizations. He was a Life Member of the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council of the University of Texas at Austin where he endowed the Annie Barnhart Giles Centennial Presidential Scholarship. He was past Chairman and a Life Member of the Executive Committee of the Kinkaid School in Houston; Paul Barnhart's association with Kinkaid dates back to 1958, when he proposed and assisted in organizing the Kinkaid Endowment Fund. He was past vice president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, a director of Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, Executive Member of Louisiana and Arkansas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, and was active in many other oil and gas associations. He played a prominent role in developing policies for the energy industry in several states, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Colorado, and Utah, and was a member of a select governor's commission for oil and gas in the state of Texas. He was a founding director of the Bank of TexasHouston and Houston's Post Oak Bank. He was a member of The River Oaks Country Club, The Bayou Club, The Petroleum Club of Houston, The Houston Club, and the Eldorado Club of Palm Springs where he kept a residence. The family would like to thank all those who cared for him; especially Lee Foster, Dorothy Pittman, and Helen Navarro. They would also like to extend many thanks to Vitas Hospice Care for their caring and loving employees. Special thanks to Sharise Fergunson, his R.N. The family will gather for a private interment service at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston on Tuesday, the 2nd of October, 2007. A memorial service will be conducted at four o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 2nd of October, in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston, with Dr. Asa Hunt officiating. In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions in memory of Paul F. Barnhart may be directed to a charity of one's choice.