Jack H. Herring

Jack H. Herring, age 83, of Austin, Texas, died February 21, 2005, at Westminster Manor Health Care Center, following a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born in Centrahoma, Coal County, Oklahoma, on January 18, 1922, to James Simmons and Susan Hamilton Herring. He attended public schools in Oklahoma and Texas and graduated from Lyford High School, Willacy County, Texas, in 1940. After service with the U.S. Air Corps during World War II, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1950, where he was president of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and a member of Square and Compass. As an alumnae of the University of Texas, he was a Life Member of the “Eyes of Texas Club,” the Ex-Student’s Association, and “A Friend of Alec.” He was also a member of the Littlefield Society, UT Presidents Association, the College of Engineering Foundation Advisory Council, Executive Committee of the Chancellor’s Council, and representative of the Engineering Foundation Advisory Council of the Ex-Student’s Association. Mr. Herring was honored as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of the University of Texas College of Engineering, and was granted an honorary membership into the Kappa Chapter of Pi Epsilon Tau. He is the donor of the J.H. Herring Centennial Professorship in Engineering and part donor of the David Ford-Jack Herring Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Engineering. Mr. Herring joined Marathon Oil Company in 1950 as a Junior Petroleum Engineer at Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas, where he progressed through positions as Field Engineer, District Engineer, Production Foreman, Superintendent, and District Superintendent. In 1962, he became Assistant Division Superintendent of Operations at Houston, and the following year, he was transferred to the General Office in Findlay, Ohio, as Senior Production Advisor. He returned to Houston in 1965 as Operations Manager of the Houston Production Division, and in 1967, was transferred back the General Office in Ohio where he advanced to Coordinating Manager of Production Operations, United States and Canada. He was elected Vice President in 1969. After a brief period of responsibility for Employee Relations in 1969, he returned to Production later that year as Vice President, Production Operations, United States and Canada. In 1972, he assumed the position of Vice President, Marketing, United States. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1974, and in 1977, he was elected Senior Vice President, Production, United States and Canada and a member of the Executive Committee of Marathon Oil Company. During the course of his distinguished career, he graduated from the Advanced Management Program of Harvard University Business School and later served on its Advisory Council. Mr. Herring was a member of the 25 Year Club of the American Petroleum Institute, the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, and Society of Petroleum Engineers. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Southwestern Legal Foundation, Independent Producers Association of America, and an associate member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He was elected to the Petroleum Engineering Department of the University of Tulsa. While living in Ohio, Mr. Herring was a member of the Executive Committee of the Put-Han-Sen Council of the Boy Scouts of America, President of the Executive Committee of the United Way of Hancock County, a member of the Board of Directors of Hancock Savings and Loan Company, a member of the Board of Directors of Stocker and Sitler Oil Company of Newark, Ohio, a member of the Findlay Country Club, and the Findlay Square Dance Club. His Austin activities have included Westminster Presbyterian Church, Tarry House, Rotary Club of Austin, University AF&FM Lodge No. 1190, English Speaking Union, patron of the Austin Symphony, Town and Gown Club, Austin Country Club, and Onion Creek Club. He was also a member of the Old Fitz Table and the Board of Trustees of Headliners Club, and a member of Seton Hospital Financial Advisory Committee. Mr. Herring is survived by his wife of 62 years, Hazel Jackson Herring, their daughter, Judith Ann Winter, and her husband, William C. Winter, M.D., of Austin, and their son, David R. Herring, of Austin. Jack and Hazel met 67 years ago when he moved from Oklahoma to join his brother, Floyd, who was farming in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Jack enrolled in Lyford High School, and on his first day there, he needed directions to his typing class and was told to follow that girl up ahead of him, who happened to be Hazel who was also on her way to the Business Administration Building. They began dating at that time and were married on February 5, 1943, when Jack had recently enlisted in the Harlingen Army Gunnery School. Jack always enjoyed the company of children. At the Marathon Oil Company Christmas Party for the employees and their families, he was the one that wore the Santa Claus suit and entertained the children. Halloween was a favorite time as he sat on the veranda and treated the children with candy. One of the best memories, though, is about the little boy next door that would ring the doorbell and ask, “Can Mr. Herring come out and play?” Throughout his life, Jack enjoyed the outdoors, the camaraderie of hunting camps and particularly golf. In Austin, he participated and was a sponsor of the Legends of Golf Tournament in its early years at Onion Creek Club. The Herring family would like to thank the staff of Arden Courts of Austin, Westminster Manor Health Care Center and AseraCare Hospice for the tender care offered to Jack in his last years. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2005, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas, with the Rev. William F. Clark, Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial contributions to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3208 Exposition Blvd., Austin, TX 78703; to the J.H. Herring Professorship in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, c/o Engineering Foundation, ECJ 10.324, Austin, TX 78723-1080; to the Alzheimer’s Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3429 Executive Center Dr., Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78731; or a charity of their choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811 - Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com