Kemp David Solcher

Kemp D. Solcher died Saturday, July 26, 2003 at the age of 85. He was born December 17, 1917 in San Antonio, in what is now known as Government Hills Historic Area. He attended local schools, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson in 1935. He continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin, and graduated in 1939 with an Honors degree in Geology. He was first employed by one of the San Antonio independent oil companies John F. Camp and Sons.

In 1942 he married his high school sweetheart Catherine Thomas, and shortly thereafter, enlisted in pilot training of the U.S. Air Corps. He earned his wings in August of 1943. As a pilot, he was assigned to a bomber group, and after training with his crew, flew a B-24 "Liberator Bomber" from Kansas to southern Italy to be a part of the 15th Air Force. With the 456 Bomb Group, he and his crew completed 51 bombing missions into Germany, and the Balkan countries including the Ploesti oil field and refinery.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two oakleaf clusters, and a Presidential Unit Citation. At the conclusion of World War II, he returned to his career in Geological Exploration in San Antonio. In 1957 he became associated with George A. Musselman, Oil Operator; a relationship which lasted 38 years until retirement in 1995. His geologic acumen resulted in the finding of several significant oil and gas discovery wells.

He was a member of the South Texas Geological Society, and The San Antonio Petroleum Club. His marriage to Catherine Katie endured for 60 years until parted by death. He is survived by their only son, Scott D. Solcher, and wife Phyllis of Kingwood, TX; four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, as of 2003. Kemps lifelong fascination with aviation resulted in the hobby of building and flying model airplanes. In the latter years he constructed and flew large-scale radio controlled models, and belonged to several local flying clubs in addition to The Academy of Model Aviation.