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Each year Cockrell School of Engineering recognizes Distinguished Graduates who have successful professional careers and have shown a strong commitment to education and public service. It is an honor awarded to only 241 of the more than 60,000 graduates of the School of Engineering, and is the highest award the Cockrell School bestows on alumni.
Richard Folger B.B.A. Petroleum Land Management and Finance 1981, B.S. Petroleum Engineering 1984, president and CEO of Warren Equipment Co. is one of this year's award winners.
Richard began his career with First City National Bank, where he became senior vice president managing the Energy Lending Division. In 1992, he joined Warren Equipment Co.'s subsidiary, Compressor Systems Inc., as vice president of business development focusing on acquisitions and developing processes for the manufacturing of engineered products.
Within four years, he was president and chief operating officer of Compressor Systems Inc., and in 1999, Richard was elected president and chief executive officer of Warren Equipment Co. Under his leadership, the company expanded significantly and was recently named to Forbes 400 list of America's Largest Private Companies.
Richard's efforts as an involved citizen are no less impressive; trustee of Midland Memorial Hospital, director of the Gas Compressor Association, director and
campaign chairman of Junior Achievement, director of United Way of Midland, director of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, trustee of the Permian
Basin Petroleum Museum and chairman of the capital campaign for St. Ann's Church. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Independent
Producers Association of America, Permian Basin Petroleum Association and Natural Gas Society of the Permian Basin.
Richard, a Texas Exes life member, currently serves on the Chancellor's Council Executive Committee. He and his wife Lois are staunch supporters of Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering and the Cockrell School. They have funded scholarships — including an endowed scholarship in petroleum engineering — and established the Lois K. and Richard D. Folger Leadership Chair in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering.
Lois Folger is an accomplished UT Petroleum Engineering alumna in her own right, and was recognized as one of the department's Distinguished Alumni in fall 2010.The Folgers live in Midland Texas, and have two daughters. Congratulations! We are so proud.
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