Robert Gene Burke

Robert Gene Burke, 82, of Houston Texas died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on March 12, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Jane Hascall Burke of 57 years, his daughter Melissa Burke Steger of Houston Texas and his son Tim Burke and wife Julie of Midland Texas. He also leaves his five precious grandchildren who were the joy of his life, Lauren Bundy and husband Blair, Amy Steger, Katelyn Steger, Timmy Burke and Bobby Burke.

Bob was born in Waco, Texas on Oct. 7, 1928 and was the only child of Harry and Lillian Burke. He attended school in Waco and graduated from Conroe High School. Bob graduated from Baylor University in 1950 with a degree in Journalism. During the Korean War he served with the 45th Infantry Division in Japan and Korea. After proudly serving his country he began his career as a reporter on the Houston Chronicle after a number of years with the Chronicle he joined The Oil and Gas Journal and was regional editor.

For more than 20 years Bob was Editor-in-Chief of Offshore Magazine, a trade publication, covering global oil and gas business. While that magazine’s editor, he toured world centers in Europe and Asia lecturing and reporting on deepwater activity and prospects for drilling. He served numerous times on the board of directors for the (NOIA) National Ocean Industries Association in Washington DC. He was President of the Association of Petroleum Writers and was elected to the Board of Directors. He was elected several times as President of (POPS) Pioneer Oil Producers Society He served on the advisory committee of Polar Tech, a global conference on Arctic Oil and gas operations and was a founding member of the technical committee for Deep Offshore Technology a yearly seminar for worldwide operations in deepwater.

Bob was asked by the US Department of Commerce to act as the Industry representative for the first Petroleum Exposition and Oil Conference in Rio de Janeiro. He was among the first oil writers to enter China when the People’s Republic resumed negotiating with Commercial enterprises from the outside world and was instrumental in bringing in Offshore Magazine to that Country.

He was a consultant on marine and petroleum matters, and conducted worldwide studies to assess new technologies and forecast markets for clients based in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Norway, Great Britain and other European countries.

After his time at Offshore, Bob joined Hart Publication of Denver as Senior Editor to open a Houston office for Petroleum Engineer International Magazine. He also served as consulting editor for Aberdeen Petroleum Report, Offshore Oil International and Brazil Energy. In the early 1990’s, he established a non-profit group called Cleaner Seas, Inc., to examine oil-spill technology and was president of Environmental Sciences, a study group for the oil and gas industry. Bob worked with numerous Oil and gas publications in developing and publishing articles in Oil and Gas Investor, Offshore Engineering, Oil and Gas magazine of Oslo, Petroleum Engineer, World Oil, Canadian Oil News, Oil and Gas Journal, Australian Oil and Gas.

Although Bob’s career as a journalist in the oil industry was his life’s work, his devotion to his wife, children and grandchildren was the center of his life. His family is deeply saddened by his passing. He will always be remembered for his compassion, integrity and values he taught his children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Thursday March 17th at 13001 Katy Freeway from 5 pm to 8 pm. Funeral Services will be conducted at 1:00PM Friday March 18th in the Memorial Drive Christian Church 11750 Memorial Dr. Interment will immediately follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.