Kenneth N. Robertson

Kenneth Norman Robertson, age 81, of Houston, Texas, went to be with his Lord surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, the 19th of July 2017. He was born in Miami, Florida on the 30th of March 1936, to Hazel and Fred Norman Robertson. He graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1954 with all-state honors in both baseball and football.

Ken was recruited by the legendary football coach, Bear Bryant, to play quarterback and study Engineering at the University of Kentucky. While there, he was coached by another legend, Blanton Collier. In the process, Ken began to evolve the set of leadership traits – humility, a sense of family and team, a commitment to excel, steadiness, and willingness to experiment – that came naturally to him and which he applied to every aspect of his life from then on.

He completed his studies with honors, earning a BS in Civil Engineering in 1958 and an M.B.A. in 1960. At the University of Kentucky, he played varsity football and was elected co-captain. Ken was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He always considered his biggest accomplishment at UK, however, to be meeting and marrying Carol Lee Anderson, the love of his life.

Ken and Carol Lee moved to Baton Rouge, LA with their young family in 1960 to begin a 41-year career with ExxonMobil. He progressed rapidly through a number of individual and management positions in both the Refining and Basic Chemicals businesses and making lifelong friends in the process. In 1974, Ken and family moved to ExxonMobil Chemicals in Houston and began 28 years managing regional and international operations. In 1981, Ken moved to Hong Kong as Executive Vice President of ExxonMobil Chemical Asia Pacific. During his time in Hong Kong, Ken enjoyed traveling the world with his family. He returned to Houston in 1985 as Executive Vice President, and then served as President for ExxonMobil Chemical Americas until his retirement as Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Chemical Company in 2001.

Ken was an involved member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston for 42 years, while serving as an elder and a member of Stewardship and Building Committees. Ken was a proud alum of University of Kentucky, serving on the College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council, inducted into the UK Business Hall of Fame and College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnae. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hiking the mountains, snow skiing, hunting, and especially golf. Ken was an active member at Lakeside Country Club, serving on the Board. He enjoyed the arts and frequently attended the Houston Symphony with his wife and close friends. Ken believed in giving back. Throughout his life, he was very involved and served on multiple Boards in various community organizations. Most of all, Ken loved spending quality time with his family while traveling, playing sports, and supporting his children and grandchildren in all their endeavors.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Hazel Robertson, his brother Don Robertson, mother-in-law Gladys Kelly Anderson, and brother-in-law Dr. Vince Anderson. Ken is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Carol Lee Anderson Robertson; his children, Kenneth N. Robertson II, Leslie Robertson Kottwitz and husband Jim Kottwitz; his beloved grandchildren, Kelly Kottwitz Morgan and husband Chris Morgan, Christy Kottwitz, Hunter Kottwitz, and great granddaughter Hudson Blaine Morgan; his sister-in-law Frances Robertson, and sister-in-law Marian Anderson; his beloved nieces and nephews, Michael Anderson and wife Lisa, Doug Anderson, Melanie Anderson Lee and husband Louie, Liz Anderson Bent and husband Bill, and multiple great nieces and nephews.

The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 28th of July, in the sanctuary of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive in Houston, where Rev. Dave Steane, Executive Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the parlor of the church.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions, in Kenneth’s memory, may be directed toward the Houston Symphony Endowment, 615 Louisiana St., Ste. 102, Houston, TX 77002; or to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024; or to The Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall St., Houston, TX 77029.