Thomas Arthur Loftus III

Thomas Arthur Loftus, III passed away on October 29, 2017, in Bakersfield, CA. Tom was born on December 21, 1950 in Pittsburg, KS. His early years were spent on a farm. After graduating from Pittsburg High School in 1968, Tom entered the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and he graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Tom began his Naval career in 1972, aboard the USS Myles C. Fox as a Gunnery Officer in Newport, RI. Later he was transferred to Charleston, SC to the USS Wainwright DG28 where he was the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. This was during the Lebanon crisis. His last tour of duty was with Desron 20 Staff in the Mediterranean. In 1979, Tom departed his Naval career as a Lieutenant.

He entered Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, KS and graduated with a J.D.- Law, Magna Cum Laude, in 1980. Tom became a member of the State Bar of Texas. His legal career began with Gulf Oil Corporation (now Chevron U.S.A. Inc.), as a Staff Attorney from 1980 to 1983. From 1983 to 1991, Tom was with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLC in Dallas, TX as an Associate and later as a Partner. From 1991 to 1992 he was a solo practitioner in Dallas, TX. He returned to Kansas with Koch Industries, Inc. in Wichita, KS where he was an Assistant General Counsel. He later returned to Houston and worked for ConocoPhillips as a Senior Counsel 1999 to 2005. Tom ended his law career where it began with Chevron as a Senior Counsel in Houston and Bakersfield, from 2006 to 2017. Tom also qualified as an in house counsel in the State of California. During his illustrious energy law career, Tom’s practice of law included both transactional work and litigation of matters involving Contract Law, Oil and Gas Law, Commercial Law, Bankruptcy Law, Environmental Law, Antitrust Law, and Acquisitions and Mergers. Tom participated in the Washburn Visiting Alumnus Program making presentations to law students, was elected to the Board of Governors for Washburn Law School Alumni Organization and served as Chair of the Alumni Outreach Committee, He also served as Chair for the Legal Committee for the Colorado Petroleum Association, also during his tenure as a Chevron attorney.

Tom was a dedicated and loving father. He traveled a great deal, but found time to volunteer for the Catholic schools his children attended. In Wichita he was an active member of the Men’s Club of Blessed Sacrament Church. He participated in many fundraising events for Kapaun Mt. Carmel HS, St. Cecilia, and St. Thomas HS in Houston, TX. Tom also did pro-bono work in every city including Dallas, Houston and Bakersfield.

He was married for 41 years to Lucy Alban-Wray of Chevy Chase, DC. He is survived by his wife Lucy, a son Thomas Arthur Loftus, a daughter Cristina Loftus Jones, a son-in-law Randolph Jones, and a granddaughter Juliette. His parents Thomas and Elizabeth Loftus and sister Janice predeceased him.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, November 6, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, TX 77024. The service will be followed by a lunch and reception at the Parish Community Center for family and friends. Interment will be at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77038.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Washburn University School of Law School, Topeka, KS or to the United States Naval Academy.