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Cecil Laws '42 July 19, 2016 2:29 PM updated: July 19, 2016 2:32 PM

(Published in) (Kerrville) Daily Times on June 27, 2016

Cecil E. Laws

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KERRVILLE — Cecil E. Laws died on June 22, 2016, in Kerrville, Texas, at age 94. He was an active participant in the trials and successes of the Greatest Generation, born Jan. 3, 1922.Cecil was a proud Corps member and graduate of Texas A & M University, Class of 1942, in Petroleum Engineering and always held Texas A & M University in high regard. He was an officer for four years during World War II in the European and Pacific theaters. His Combat Engineer Battalion (Army, 1275) trained to remove mine fields on the shores of Japan should the invasion of Japan have occurred. He became self-employed in 1958, founding Triple-L Specialty Company. Cecil designed built, perfected, and rented an ingenious device for oil well drilling rigs which improved drilling rates known as the automatic driller. A true Aggie engineer, his working prototype's operational gearing was borrowed from a hand crank pencil sharpener. This device translated tension on the drill line into a mechanical operation which monitored and adjusted the draw-works brake so to keep constant weight on the drill bit and thus allow better management of drill rotation and penetration through various substrata. Part of this equipment was patented by him. He later sold this business to Baroid, an international company in oil well drilling muds.Cecil loved playing on the water. He taught many family friends to water ski and also loved sailing. After visiting Hawaii in the early 1960's, Cecil decided to take up surfing; and, at age 40, rode his first wave. With his son, Larry, Cecil established the first surfboard rental business in Texas with locations in Padre Island, Port Aransas, Galveston and Port Isabel. In 2010 Cecil was recognized for his early leadership in establishing Texas surfing by the Texas Surf Museum. Upon his sale of the Triple-L Specialty Co., Cecil moved to Hawaii for a number of years, returning to Texas in 1970.After 1970 he became president of Protect Lake Travis Association for five years with a goal of keeping several entities from discharging their treated sewage into Lake Travis. The Lower Colorado River Authority honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments. While working for a token $50 per month he saved the local water district many thousands of dollars offering engineering expertise.Starting in 1971 through 2008 he became owner of a Plexiglas fabricating company which manufactured many unique items. Cecil was a consummate engineer- inventor, always thinking of better and less expensive ways to provide a service or product. He also loved train travel and introduced his three grandsons to the sites of America on train trips to the Mid-West and Southwest.He was preceded in death by his son Larry.He is survived by his daughter Linda Laws Pate and husband, Judge Robert C. Pate, and three grandsons: R. C. (Pam), Gardner and Oscar Pate (Meredith) and three great granddaughters, Athena, Nora and Evan.Sharing discovery and offering self, Cecil willed his earthly remains to the University of Texas Health Science Center; accordingly, there will be no funeral or memorial service at his request. http://uthscsa.edu/csb/bodydonation.Cecil became a Christian weeks prior to his death. To honor him, please pray that your loved ones gain their assurance of Heaven through acceptance of Christ.The family thanks his many friends in Kerrville and the staff at Brookdale Guadalupe River Plaza and Peterson Hospice.


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