Distinguished Alumni Honorees

Before graduating from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1961 and 1962 respectively, George H. Fancher, Jr. had a vision and a plan for owning and operating his own oil company. His father, a Professor of Petroleum Engineering at UT PGE, sparked his intellectual curiosity in engineering with brief introductions to the thrill of the wildcat. More significantly his father taught George at an early age the importance of a strong work ethic. George's early exposure to the dream of big wildcats combined with his drive and entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for his successful career.

George Stegemeier is an engineer with more than 60 years' experience in oil exploration and production. He holds degrees in petroleum engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (BS '52) and from the University of Texas (MS '53), and (PhD '59). He was born in Wood River, Illinois, the son of George H. and Rose A. (Smola) Stegemeier. There, along with his two brothers Rich and Bob, he grew up in the carefree freedom of his parent's small town and on his grandparent's farms.

Gail Chenoweth, who was raised in Midland, Texas, is the third generation in her family involved in the oil industry. Her maternal grandfather worked in the West Texas oil fields and her father, O. L. Chenoweth, was a 1942 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin Petroleum Engineering Department. Before returning to pursue her bachelor of science in petroleum engineering, Gail received a bachelor of arts in studio art from UT Austin in 1976 and worked as a jewelry designer in Dallas for two years.

Jack Zarrow, a Russian immigrant's son who built a philanthropic pipeline that continues to fuel various charity efforts in and beyond Tulsa, died February 2, 2012. He was 86.

Robert M. (Bob) Leibrock was born and raised in DeWitt, Arkansas, and graduated from high school in 1937. He joined a traveling dance orchestra, playing trumpet, until enrolling, at the insistence of his father, in The University of Texas at Austin. He graduated from UT Austin with a B.S. in petroleum engineering in 1943.

A second-generation UT PGE graduate, Dr. Karen D. Hagedorn earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from UT PGE in 1986. She earned the degree in three years with highest honors, and her subsequent educational and career paths have remained equally impressive.

From an early age, Jeff Hildebrand had a vision and a passion to run and own his own oil and gas company.   As a young boy growing up in Houston Jeff learned firsthand what it takes to succeed from his parents. His father was a veterinarian who built a multi-practice enterprise with the help of his adventurous mother who tragically lost her life while piloting her own airplane when Jeff was 15 years old.  This was an unfortunate and unsettling event for Jeff, but eventually gave him the perseverance to flourish.  The strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him by his parents combined with the knowledge and skills gained from an education at The University of Texas at Austin laid the foundation for his accomplishments.

Harry A. Trueblood, Jr. was born in Wichita Falls August 28, 1925 to Harry and Marguerite Barnhart Trueblood, and raised in Childress.  A born entrepreneur, he had his first job at 11, participated in his first "founding" at age 12 when he helped launch Boy Scout Troop 63 and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout by June, 1940 while helping found an Explorer Scout troop.  Harry graduated from high school in 1942 and entered Texas A & M College in August before his 17th birthday.  He transferred to UT Austin after one semester when it became evident that serving in the ROTC wouldn't assure he could graduate with his BSPE degree before mandatory wartime army service.  Harry attended UT from January, 1943 until he graduated in August, 1948 except for period 1944-46 of naval service in the Pacific aboard a minesweeper.  While on campus, he belonged to Kappa Alpha (VP) and was elected a Texas Cowboy (Camp Cook).

Fred Stephens has been a part of the "oil patch" since his college days at UT PGE in the late 1940's working summers as a roughneck in Wink and roustabout in Ozona. In 1949, after graduating from UT Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, Fred's career began when he accepted an engineering job in Wichita Falls with Cable Engineering, a company owned by Joe Cable, the father of one of Fred's classmates. Fred left the roughneck job to go to work for Cable Engineering and never looked back. His new wife, Jane, made the move with him to Wichita Falls.

After serving four years as a naval aviation cadet, Charles Simmons went on to receive a petroleum engineering degree from UT Austin in 1948.