Auburn Leslie Mitchell

Auburn Leslie Mitchell, who died November 22, 2022, was a husband, father, brother and friend to many. He was an attorney, specializing in natural resources and energy.

He was born May 24, 1941 on a farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle near the small community of Adams. His birthplace was firmly imprinted on his psyche. He always felt that he was a son of the prairie.

Surviving family include his wife Sara, sons Charles (Karin) and Jim and his two grandchildren, Matthew and Jeanette, sisters Mignon (Gale) Sullivan and Evonne (Dee) Roberson, sister-in-law Donnie, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Leslie and Thelma Sherrill and his three older brothers, Maurice, James and Dwayne.

He attended Adams public schools and Panhandle State College for one year. Auburn then transferred to Oklahoma State University, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1964. While at OSU, he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity. Partly because he always enjoyed lively discussions (arguing) he then attended the University of Oklahoma law school. He graduated in the top of his class in 1967 with a JD degree. He served on the Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif.

In July 1967, he married Saralou (Sara) Griffin of Hobart Oklahoma, whom he had met at the University of Oklahoma. They remained married for the rest of Auburn’s life. They had two sons, Charles and James, respectively born in 1973 and 1975.

While at OSU, Auburn was a member of Army ROTC and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation. After a short delay, during which he worked for Kerr-McGee Corp in Oklahoma City, he entered active duty as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army early in 1968. His first duty assignment was with the Fifth Mechanized Infantry Division (The Red Diamond) at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He then attended Defense Information School. Upon completion, he was deployed to Lai Khe, Viet Nam early in 1969, serving with the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One). His initial assignment was in public information, but he later served as an attorney representing solders charged with misdemeanors. Upon his return early in 1970, he separated from the Army with the rank of Captain and began his law career in earnest.

He returned to work for Kerr-McGee, then moved to the Washington D.C. area to work for Potomac Electric Power Company, beginning in 1973. In 1976, he embarked upon public service, working for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and subsequently the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. From 1982-1985, Auburn returned to private business with Arthur Anderson Consulting as energy advisor.

Moving to Austin, Texas in 1985, he served as Counsel to Mack Wallace, Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, followed by serving as energy advisor to Governor Bill Clements. He continued to serve the State of Texas in the areas of energy and natural resources through his career, taking positions at the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality, and finally in the office of Governor Rick Perry. He retired in 2008.

Auburn was a gregarious man who made friends easily and worked to maintain friendships over the years. He remained in contact with friends from college, the Army, and just about everywhere that he worked. Friends have characterized him as kind, thoughtful, curious, loyal, and generous. He was also famous for hosting friends for chili dogs and homemade ice cream.

After retirement he continued a life of learning. He became a scholar of the settlement of the American West, particularly in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandle areas. He also spent many days and miles researching his family history, dispelling myths while finding interesting ancestors. Many hours were spent in state archives and county courthouses in Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and North Carolina. His farming and outdoors childhood never left him. He spent many hours feeding and being entertained by birds and the resident fox. Even more hours were spent cultivating, harvesting and sharing large quantities of tomatoes.

A memorial is tentatively planned for Saturday March, 11 2023 at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, Austin TX.

Memorial gifts may be made to ProMedica Foundation, listing “Arden Courts of Austin TX” in the memo line, then mailed to ProMedica Foundation, Memory Care Fund, 444 N Summit Street, Suite 100, Toledo, OH 43604

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the Mitchell family.