Bio

When I was a senior in high school in Falfurrias I was going to attend t.u. and study law. In the spring an Aggie mom invited me and a high school classmate, Sonny Flores, to go to A&M for Final Review. When her son put on his senior boots I knew this was where I wanted to go to school. Sonny also decided on A&M and became my roommate. A local businessman steered me to study Petroleum Engineering. During the summers I worked in oil and gas operations to support my education. I received a commission in the U. S. Air Force along w/my degree in Petroleum Engineering. I went in the service in August of 1959, reporting for duty at Dover AFB, Delaware. In June of 1961 I married my high school sweetheart, Margot Salinas. In August of 1962 I was transferred to Texas A&M University to work on my Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering. In Sept. of 1963 after completing my degree requirements I was promoted to the rank of Captain and transferred to Misawa Air Base, Japan. While in Japan I received the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement and was named the most outstanding Fuels Management Officer in the Pacific Air Forces in 1965. I mustered out of the service in 1966 and returned home to Texas to try and find a job. I began my career with Mobil Oil Corp. in Mobil’s Corpus Christi Division in 1966, serving in various production engineering positions throughout South Texas. In 1972 I was appointed systems and programming supervisor in the computer process control group, which was responsible for computer automation of the oil fields and gas plants, including all phases of production and processing. My career w/Mobil included 18 years of computer experience. My assignments included Falfurrias, Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Denver, CO, and Houston again. Upon deregulation of the gas industry in 1986, I was appointed to the original Mobil Natural Gas management team. Through the next nine years I held several managerial positions dealing with Contract Administration, Supply, Business Development, Transportation, Sales, and Trading and Negotiations. I was the chief negotiator for all pipe-line take-or-pay settlements, with claims totaling in excess of $3 Billion. I retired from Mobil as Vice President, Trading, North America in 1995 after more than 28 years of service. I am a member of Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society, a past member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and formerly served as a member on the Texas A&M Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering Industry Board. I also serve on the board of directors of the Humble ISD Education Foundation Board. Margot and I have one son, Alan, employed by UPS and living in Parker, Colorado. We also have 2 Aggie daughters: Carrie, Class of ‘85, former Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Medical School at Texas A&M University and currently Executive Vice President of the University of California Health System, the largest Medical Education System in the United States, and Denise, (deceased) Class of ‘86, formerly a Vice President for J.P. Morgan Chase. We are also blessed with five super grandkids, 3 girls and 2 boys. My hobbies include hunting, fishing, and golf, golf, golf!!!

Texas A&M Degrees

Former Student Activities and Leadership

Corps of Cadets

Student Activities