Lloyd Madden

He attended various primary and secondary schools in western Kansas, and graduated in 1936 from Manhattan High School. In 1937 he moved to Golden, CO and entered the Colorado School of Mines (“CSM”). While attending college, he proved to be an exceptional athlete in track and football, and was recognized as an AP All-American as a football halfback with the most points scored nationally (141) in 1939, and was presented the Blanchard trophy by the Governor of Colorado for his outstanding football achievements. In his last year of college, he was drafted to play a season of professional football with the Chicago Cardinals in 1940. At season’s end, he returned to CSM, graduating 5th in his class of Geological Engineering in 1941.

After graduation he joined the Exploration Department of Shell Oil Company in Abilene, TX, where he was called for duty by the Army Air Force at Camp Barkley, Abilene. After infantry training, he was sent as a cadet to UCLA and later the University of Chicago for advanced physics and meteorological training. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations as a weather officer responsible for tactical briefing of airmen and ship captains. He was discharged as a Captain in 1946, and subsequently served 9 years in the Air Force Reserve, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1955.

He rejoined Shell Oil Company while serving in the Air Force Reserve, and worked in Texas as a geologist in the Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Wichita Falls offices. Upon leaving Shell in 1951, he joined the McElroy Ranch Co. in Fort Worth as a geologist. In that same year he met and married his life-long love, Shirley A. Bergstrom, and they relocated permanently to Midland, Texas, where he became West Texas Division Manager for McElroy Ranch. After many years with the McElroy Ranch and subsequently Mobil Oil Company, he became a Consulting Geologist until retiring approximately 10 years ago. Lloyd had an extensive knowledge of the sub-surfaces in Texas and New Mexico, and was involved in mapping and drilling of numerous oil and gas wells in the Central and West Texas area.

As the first graduate to be inducted into the CSM Athletic Hall of Fame, a Bob Coffee designed statue was donated to the school by his good friend and alumnus, Stewart Chuber, memorializing the event. On February 9, 1998, Lloyd was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies at the Adams Mark Hotel in Denver for achievements in college football and track, and professional football. In 2005 he was elected to the Rocky Mountain Conference Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Exhibits of past accomplishments are now on permanent display at Mile High Stadium and Hall of Fame Library in Denver. Notable friends and former players of the time include the honorable former Supreme Court Justice Byron “Whizzer” White, Sammy Baugh, and Glenn Morris. Several notable alumni and close associates include John Moody (deceased) and Stewart Chuber.

Lloyd was a member of Tau Beta Pi for scholastic achievement in Engineering, and his career spanned more than 50 years as a Registered Engineer and Exploration Geologist in Texas and New Mexico. He is listed in the First Edition of Who’s Who in Texas in 1973-1974, the First Edition of Outstanding Americans in the South-1975, and serves as a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Institute of Professional Geologists, Midland Masonic Lodge No. 623, and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ Dallas, TX.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley A. Madden, sons, Steven D. (Paula) Madden of Frisco, TX, and Kim A. (Darleen) Madden of Bedford, TX, and daughters, Deborah K. (Robert) Barker of Midland, TX, and Victoria A. (John) Akos of Rowlett, TX. There are 9 grand-children and 5 great grand-children, all of whom held a special place in his heart.The family has requested donations be made to HospiceMidland, First United Methodist Church of Midland, or a charity of choice. Sincere appreciation goes out to HospiceMidland, with special thanks by the family to Richard and Amy. Condolences may be made at: www.ellisfunerals.com.