Brian E. O'Brien

Brian was born on the outskirts of London in Wanstead, England, on the 13th of October 1933, to an Englishman, Wilfred Augustus “Tim” O’Brien, and a native Texan, Catherine Louise Perrenot O’Brien. During World War II, while his father served in the Royal Air Force and his mother volunteered as an ambulance driver, Brian attended boarding school and served as an eyewitness to history as the Germans began bombing London. He could recount memories of having to shelter in the basement during air raids and was grateful to have survived the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.

Though Brian enjoyed afternoon tea and his British grandmother’s cooking, it was during a visit to his mother’s hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, as a young boy that he became captivated by the Texas cowboy, the stark majesty of the landscape, and the unique warmth of the culture. It was then that Brian decided he belonged in Texas.

In 1946, at the age of 12, Brian, his mother and two sisters, Janice and Stephanie, left a war-torn England and sailed to the United States (he would jokingly tell his grandchildren that he came to the U.S. on the Mayflower) to live with family in Corpus Christi. In Texas, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, Edward P. Perrenot and Julia Hunter Perrenot along with his uncles, Robert Loyd Perrenot and Harlan Peter Perrenot, to whom he remained close throughout his life. Surrounded by relatives working in both the cattle and oil and gas businesses in Texas, Brian began shaping a dream.

Brian graduated high school in Corpus Christi and attended Cameron Agricultural College in Lawton, Oklahoma for two years before being drafted by the U.S. Army in May of 1953, where he served in Korea until 1955. Upon his return to the U.S., Brian enrolled at the University of Oklahoma (OU), where he met the love of his life and wife of 62 years, Sandra Ruth Lewallen. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1958, married Sandra in 1961, and received his Master of Science in Geology in 1963.

Though Brian appeared to never take life too seriously, he had a strong work ethic, a strong faith in God, and an unwavering dedication to achieving his goals. While a student at OU, he made ends meet by working as a mud logger in the oil fields in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Upon graduation, he was hired as a geophysicist and later worked as a geologist for Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), first in Houston and then in Corpus Christi. During this time Brian and Sandra’s first three children were born: Timothy Loyd, Mary Catherine, and Robert Edward. In 1969, the family came back to Houston and Brian took a job with Mesa Petroleum Corporation. Soon after, Brian and Sandra would welcome twin sons, Sean Michael and Stephen Patrick.

While working for Mesa, Brian generated an oil and gas prospect south of the city of Laredo. Mesa’s management turned down this prospect, and in true entrepreneurial spirit, Brian decided to pursue the prospect on his own. He gave up the guarantee of a steady paycheck, turned in the company car, and placed all his chips on the table. Despite the opinions of others, he relied on confidence in his own abilities and geological talents and began drilling. This wildcat prospect turned out to be a major discovery and led to the development of the Lobo play. In 1972, Brian, along with A.R. Sanchez, Sr., A.R. Sanchez, Jr., John Blocker, and Joe Thomas, formed the South Texas Exploration Company which was the forerunner of Sanchez-O’Brien Oil & Gas Company (SOBOG). From 1974-1997, SOBOG, under Brian’s technical leadership, was one of the most successful privately held independent oil and gas companies with numerous notable discoveries.

After dissolving SOBOG in 1997, Brian continued his career, independently exploring for oil and gas while also partnering with his son, Robert, at Saxet Petroleum, Inc. Together they continued their exploration efforts with successes along the Gulf Coast and throughout South Texas. For many years and up until just two weeks before his passing, Brian was at the office daily working on his next prospect.

Brian was a member of many industry associations, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Houston Geological Society, the South Texas Geological Society, the Corpus Christi Geological Society, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, and the Institute of Professional Geologists. In 1997, he was inducted into the All-American Wildcatters. Brian had a passion for generating and drilling wildcat prospects, and he enjoyed one of the best exploration track records in the oil and gas industry. One of Brian’s most notable sayings was, “If you ain’t drilling, you ain’t sh--.”

Brian never forgot his humble beginnings and early struggles, and his great success afforded him the opportunity to share generously and touch the lives of those around him. Brian and Sandra were not spared hardship as their son Sean was born with a genetic condition that has required full-time care throughout his life. They were blessed to be able to provide the care Sean needed while also generously helping fund medical research and fundraise on behalf of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.

Brian was a member of the Petroleum Club of Houston, the River Oaks Country Club, and The Houstonian where he enjoyed many good times with friends and occasionally exercised. He also kept very close ties with his friends at OU. With gratitude, Brian returned OU’s investment in his education several times over. Brian was an avid fan and generous supporter of the OU football team, spending years flying from Houston to Norman to catch Saturday games. He served as a member, founder, or chairman of the following organizations at OU: the Alumni Advisory Board to the School of Geology and Geophysics, the Advisory Board of the Sarkey Energy Center, the Presidential Search Committee, the Oklahoma Seed Sowers Society, the OU Foundation, and the OU Advisory Task Force on Energy. As a result of his dedication to service, personal integrity, and exceptional professional achievements, Brian was a recipient of the 1989 Regents Alumni Award and the 2016 Oklahoma Trailblazer Award, in addition to many other awards bestowed by the University of Oklahoma.

Brian was able to fulfill his life-long dream of owning a ranch in South Texas and becoming a cattle rancher. He began acquiring land in 1975 in Maverick County, Texas and continued to increase his land holdings over the next 30 years. Cinco Ranch, named in honor of his five children, has been a place for Brian to live out his cowboy dreams – raising cattle, hunting, and experiencing what Brian called the “mesquite mystique.” He was blessed to share the ranch with his ever-expanding family, friends, and colleagues. Many joyful holidays have been spent with his family, which today includes his and Sandra’s five children, ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Brian, in true form, found ways to give to the community in South Texas. In 2000, he and Sandra funded the Brian E. and Sandra O’Brien Endowed Maverick County Scholarship Fund with Texas A&M International University to benefit Maverick County students. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District for 16 years and was a member of the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, Range Management Association, Beefmasters Association, the Texas Wildlife Association, and the Texas Historical Society. Brian had a special fondness for South Texas, and it will be his final resting place, as he will be buried amongst the mesquite trees in the beautiful landscape he so loved.

Brian was many things, including husband, father, grandfather “Bobo,” great-grandfather, geologist, rancher, employer, mentor, colleague, friend, and philanthropist. He was a hard worker, whip-smart, and the understated life of every party. He was beloved by those fortunate enough to work for him and appreciated by those from all walks of life who met him in passing for the kindness he showed them. He adored his grandchildren and attended multiple sporting events, taught them how to hunt and fish, and never missed a graduation – especially if it was at OU! He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred Augustus “Tim” O’Brien and Catherine Louise Perrenot O’Brien, and his sister Janice Catherine O’Brien Phillips.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Ruth Lewallen; son, Tim O’Brien and his wife Kim; daughter, Mary Catherine Cook and her husband Mike; son, Robert O’Brien and his wife Shannon; and twins, Sean and Stephen. He also leaves behind 10 grandchildren: Katherine Noe and her husband Ryan; Lauren Champeau and her husband Nate; Sean O’Brien; Savanna O’Brien; Emily Noll and her husband Scott; Julia Armstrong and her husband Connor; Brian Cook and his fiancée Kennedy Adcock; Chandler Yanke and her husband Max; Robert O’Brien, Jr.; and Catherine O’Brien; as well as five great-grandchildren: Charlotte Noe, Davis Noe, Graham Saunders, Elspeth Champeau, and Wyatt Armstrong. He is also survived by his sister, Stephanie O’Brien Brownell; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

The O’Brien Family would like to thank Charles Brooks, Lauren Heitmann, Jeff Karnes, and Juanita Avila for all of their care and devotion to Brian and the love and support they have given us.

Brian was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church and later faithfully attended St. Martin’s Episcopal Church with his wife, Sandra.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 8th of February, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston. Livestreaming of the service will be made available for those unable to attend and may be accessed by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the “Services” section below.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance by selecting the icon below under “Donations.”

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