L.D. Blackwell

L.D. Blackwell, native Houstonian and CEO of Blackwell Plastics, Custom Injection Molding and Extrusion, passed away on Sunday, the 9th of August 2015, at the age of 89. Mr. Blackwell was born on the 8th of October 1925, to Leonard and Irene Blackwell. He served as 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force during World War II. After the war he came home to study mechanical engineering at University of Houston.

Mr. Blackwell continued the plastics business that he and his father had begun together in 1939 inventing the famous Slip Cork Insert. He led the company to be one of the largest custom injection molding operations in the southern United States. He was directly involved in bringing revolutionary products to gas and oil, medical, aerospace, consumer, and industrial industries through his work with fellow entrepreneurs. Such work included many products for NASA missions, development and manufacturing of the weed-eater, and work with Denton Cooley to develop the by-pass heart pump for open heart surgery, and numerous supporting products used in surgery.

He was a Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Downtown Rotary Club of Houston, and the Executives Association of Houston. Mr. Blackwell served as Vice-Chairman of the board for Fannin Bank and had interests in many local business and charity organizations.

Mr. Blackwell was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert H. Blackwell and Jack G. Blackwell, both of Houston. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen S. Blackwell, daughter Karen M. Blackwell, and grandson Matthew M. Blackwell; and several nephews and a niece.

Special thanks to all the doctors and nurses at Baylor and St. Luke’s Hospital, especially Dr. David Aguilar and ICU 6A.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 16th of August, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 17th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.