Robert Edward Henderson

Born on the 8th of December 1952, Bob was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was a 1970 graduate of Captain Shreve High School, where he played on the state champion tennis team. He attended Southern Methodist University as a University Scholars recipient, graduating magna cum laude in 1974 and receiving a BS in Economics and Math and BA in Business. Bob was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at SMU, as well as three other honorary societies in Math, Accounting, and Business. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he met many lifelong friends. After college, Bob entered the University of Texas School of Business in Austin as a Sord Scholar, earning his MBA, finishing first in his class before moving to Houston to begin a career in the oil exploration business.

Bob worked initially as Treasurer of ENSTAR Petroleum in Houston, which was purchased to become Trafalgar House Oil USA (later Hardy Oil), serving as CEO and Chairman of the Board. He met extensively with the Board of Trafalgar House, UK during this period to determine the course of the U.S. business strategy. He later led a management buyout to form Mariner Energy, where he continued as CFO, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. His leadership and analytical skills were instrumental in guiding Mariner through a very successful period of new offshore exploration in the late 1990s. He retired from day-to-day operations in 2001.

Bob was fortunate to have had many years of very active retirement, devoting himself to his family, managing investments, and pursuing his passion for yachting and big game fishing. Above all, he was a loving and caring husband, father, son, and brother, always making family his top priority. Quick to laugh at himself and always upbeat, Bob had a way of making others feel that their concerns were more important than his own. He made many new friends while participating in numerous Gulf Coast and Atlantic bill fishing tournaments and attending to a succession of 10 different power fishing boats since the 1970s, most called "Great Escape", a well-known name among marlin anglers. He enjoyed traveling extensively with wife Michele and family, golf, tennis, bridge, and wine collecting. Bob was a member of the Houstonian Club, former board member of the Houston Petroleum Club, and member of the International Game Fish Association. He was a communing member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston.

Bob is survived by his devoted wife and college sweetheart, Michele Woodward Henderson of Houston, Texas, daughter Hilary Lanphere and husband Brett of Katy, Texas, daughter Whitney Douglas and husband Alex of Houston, parents Edward and Virginia Henderson of Shreveport, brother Bruce Henderson and wife Betty of Shreveport, and mother-in-law Mary Kay Woodward of Waco, Texas, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A private family memorial will be held in Destin, Florida, a yearly family retreat since early childhood.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Bob's honor may be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486 Houston, Texas 77210-4486.