Oliver Cree McBryde Jr.

Oliver Cree McBryde, Jr. was born October 29, 1928, in Austin, Texas, the firstborn son of Oliver Cree McBryde, Sr. and Cleo Leigh McBryde. He was raised on the Escondido Ranch near Premont, Texas, and attended Premont Public Schools where he met Betty Louise Harden. After a few years’ courtship, they married on July 14, 1951, in Morgan City, Louisiana. They were married for more than 71 years.

At 18, Oliver hitchhiked to Austin and enrolled himself in the Petroleum Engineering Department at The University of Texas. He was a lifetime member of Texas Exes, a proud Longhorn, and a longtime supporter of the Petroleum Engineering Department. After graduation, he worked for Amerada Petroleum Corporation for twenty years. He and Betty moved frequently while he rapidly rose through the ranks to be Chief Engineer, the youngest ever at the time. He left Amerada in 1972 and soon was hired by McCormick Oil and Gas in Houston, an aggressive and highly successful independent company, as Executive Vice President. He was very instrumental in McCormick’s good fortunes. On leaving McCormick in the early 1980s, he and fellow McCormick colleague Wayne Adams acquired productive mineral rights in several states, which Oliver actively managed until about a year ago.

With fond memories of his childhood on the Escondido, he longed to have a ranch to call his own. In the late 1970s he and Betty purchased what was to become the Running ML Ranch outside Yoakum, Texas. They loved living there for several years. Initially assisted by his uncle, renowned cattleman Frank Leigh, he acquired Beefmaster cattle, and later, a commercial herd. From almost the beginning, he was assisted through a partnership with Fred Cook, Sr. of Yoakum, then by Fred’s wife Bobbie, and continuing today with Fred Cook, Jr.

Since moving to San Antonio in 2000, Oliver was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, serving in several different lay capacities. He and Betty were active participants and supporters of Laity Lodge, the Christian camp and retreat in the Hill Country owned by the H-E-B Family Foundation.

Oliver answered to many names over the years. He was known as Sonny to his parents and brothers, Mac to his colleagues at Amerada, Oliver to his wife and countless others, Dad to John and Mark and their wives, G-Dad to Michael, Chrissie, Lynn, and Patrick, and beginning two years ago, GG-Dad to Millie, Theo, and just three months ago, Oliver. He was overjoyed to learn that one of his great-grandchildren had been named after him.

Oliver was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Neal Maddox McBryde and Ross Winston McBryde, sister-in-law Wilma McBryde, and brother-in-law Blair Harden.

Oliver is survived by his wife Betty Harden McBryde, sisters-in-law Bonnie McBryde and Bonita Harden, sons John Charles McBryde and James Mark McBryde, their respective wives Marla Peterson McBryde and Barbara Eastwood McBryde. He is also survived by grandchildren Michael John McBryde (wife Tiffany Long), Patrick Marvin McBryde (wife Erika Deal), Christina Ann “Chrissie” Ozuna (husband Brandon Ozuna), and Lynn Elizabeth McBryde, as well as great-grandchildren Amelia McBryde, Theodore McBryde-Long, and Oliver Ozuna.