Xavier C. Lemond

Xavier Culver Lemond was born April 20, 1941, to Joseph Lawrence and Bertha Manuel Lemond in Leonville, Louisiana; the second of ten children. In 1944, the family moved to Highlands, Texas and later to Barrett Station, Texas where he attended Charles R. Drew Elementary School through seventh grade.

In 1953, at the age of 12 and the beginning of his eighth grade year, Xavier considered a sacred call to become a priest in the Catholic Church. He left home to attend the Josephite Seminary (Epiphany Apostolic College) in Newburgh, New York. He continued his studies there until 1955 when he returned home to Barrett Station and entered Charles R. Drew High School at the start of his tenth grade year. Xavier graduated from Drew High School in 1958, at the age of 17.

Xavier pursued a Mechanical Engineering degree at Prairie View A&M University. In his sophomore year, he decided to join the United States Army, entering Officer Candidate School (OCS). Upon completion, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Shortly afterwards, with the lure of an extra $100 a month, he became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. In June of 1963, he was honorably discharged with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Not quite ready to leave the army lifestyle, he joined the Army Reserves, where he gained the rank of Captain. He also earned a position on the pistol team.

After the Reserves, Xavier enrolled at University of Houston, continuing his engineering studies. While there, he began working at Sinclair Petrochemicals. He graduated from University of Houston in 1966 with a Psychology degree, after determining that was the fastest route to graduate. He secured a teaching position at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston where he taught ROTC. Although he enjoyed teaching, he left Washington to join State Farm Insurance, becoming the first black Claims Adjuster in the Southern Region of the United States. Still wanting to explore other options, Xavier entered law school at the University of Houston, taking night classes, while continuing to work with State Farm. He graduated from the University of Houston Bates College of Law in 1973. While in law school, Xavier became the first black University of Houston law student to be inducted into the prestigious law honor society, the Order of the Barons, based on his outstanding academic record.

In 1974, Xavier joined Conoco, Inc. as an Oil and Gas Attorney. Serving in many capacities, his experience included drafting farmout, acreage contribution, development, pipeline right-of-way, surface lease, office lease, and operating agreements; in addition, he prepared rendering rental, division order and shut-in gas well opinions; drafted gas purchase-gas sales, procession, transportation, and exchange agreements and construction contracts; and handled and coordinating litigation. During his tenure there, he served on numerous committees and was the embodiment of commitment to quality education and employment for minorities. He was one of the founding members of The Network Group (TNG), which established a networking system for African Americans at Conoco. TNG helped create work environment that recognized the value of diversity and improved social and economic conditions in the African American community through community service projects, such as Adopt-a-Family Thanksgiving and Christmas food, clothes, and toy drives.

Because of his keen awareness of the need for diversity training within Corporate America, Xavier created a program that he used to provide diversity training classes to upper management. Eventually, word of his training and its success spread and he was sought out to provide training to various groups.

His love of speaking led him to several different activities. He was recruited to teach Oil and Gas Law as an Adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law for a number of years. He also taught ESL at Houston Community College in the Adult Education department.

In 1984, Xavier was appointed to the University Of Houston Board Of Regents by then-Governor, Mark White. During his tenure on the Board of Regents, he served as the Chairman on the Art Acquisition Committee, Building Committee, and Vice-Chairman of the Board. He served until the end of his term in 1991.

After 20 years of service, in 1994, Xavier left Conoco, Inc. to start a private law practice. In 2001, he was appointed an Assistant County Attorney in the Harris County Attorney’s Office. Not long thereafter, Harris County Commissioners Court appointed him to the position of Director of Community Development and Community Affairs. He retired in 2009 as the Director of the Harris County Social Services Department.

Anyone who knew Xavier would agree that he was full of life and the life of the party. He loved to mingle and talk. He was a very social person. He was active in AA and Al-Anon.

Xavier was also a mentor to many people, especially to the youth in Barrett Station through a highly-successful student scholars program funded jointly by the University of Houston and Mr. Randy Crawford, a former Conoco employee.

Xavier was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Nicole. He leaves behind his loving wife, Diane; daughter, Lydia; son, Richard (Candice); son-in-law, Gavin Smith; grandchildren, Erica, Chad (Cash), Erin, Preston, Kira, Kelsie, and Aiden; great-granddaughter, Kaylynn; brothers, Lawrence, Jr. (Peggy), James M. (Loretta), Raphael, Gerald, Sr. (Gloria), and Rev. Deacon Martin, Sr. (Janet); sisters, Virgie Mouton (Stephen), Lynda Hill, Janelle Lemond Glover, Janie Squier (Dan), and LouBertha Harris.

Arrangements under the direction of Katy Funeral Home, Katy, TX.