Arlen Edgar

March 30, 1934 - June 14, 2021

Facebook

Grace Lutheran Church

Saturday 8/21, 3:00 pm

Arlen L. Edgar, (87) of Midland, Texas passed away on Monday, June 14, 2021.

Arlen was born on March 30, 1934 in Stephenville, Texas to Zeddie and Ruby Edgar. Arlen attended Tarleton State University from 1952-1953, where he also served in the Army ROTC. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with a degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1956.

He began his career with Pan American Petroleum in Odessa, then moved to Midland to serve as junior and intermediate engineer. After three years in Midland, Pan American asked Arlen to move to Fort Worth. Leibrock, Landreth, Campbell and Callaway (LLC&C) consulting engineering firm offered him a job as well. He accepted the job and remained in Midland, staying at LLC&C six years and becoming manager of the consulting division. At the same time, he served as secretary and a director of Canada-based Kanata Exploration and southern Louisiana-based Offshore Exploration Company.

In 1967, Edgar joined Robert M. Leibrock’s new company, Tipperary Land and Exploration, which was involved in farming, cattle, shrimp fishing, hard minerals – but no oil. He spent time exploring Australia, discovering a major bauxite deposit there. He later served as president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

After four years with Tipperary, he joined Western States Producing Company as general manager of the San Antonio-based company’s Midland office. After spending two years there, he decided to branch off as an independent investor and consultant. Since 1973, he spent his time as an independent oil and gas investor, while also staying involved with professional organizations and community and church activities in Midland.

Edgar was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Tarleton State University as well as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering. He received many awards from organizations such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers; the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers; the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers; and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, as well as various other recognitions for his many achievements. Among these were the 2004 Top Hand Award from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the 2008 Hearst Energy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the 2012 SPE Permian Basin Section Presidential Scholarship in his name, and most recently, a 2019 inductee into the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame.

He was an active supporter of the Midland Community Theatre, serving in various roles on the Board and participating in the Summer Mummers.

Arlen was a long-standing member of Grace Lutheran Community Church serving in a number of volunteer roles in including President (three terms), Vice President of Congregation, Chairman of Endowments Committee, and a member of the Stewardship Board.

He is survived by his sister Marcia and her husband Jerry Norris of Stephenville, Texas; his two nieces and their families: Jennifer Norris and Randal Robledo of Austin, and Emily Norris Russell and her husband Cody Russell, daughter Zeddie and son Colton of Haslet; two sons and their families: Mark, his wife Patti Rennscheidt Edgar and their daughter Lindsey of Midland; and Brad, his wife Ankie Turcios Edgar, their son Jackson, and their daughters Rosiana and Lillian of Oakland, California.

The family also wishes to acknowledge Karen Hohle, his executive assistant and office manager, and Sandy Smith, his longtime controller, who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to manage his business affairs.

He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Knudson Edgar, having been married from November 9, 1957 until her passing on December 30, 2010.

Arlen was laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park on June 19th.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Midland Community Theatre, The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, or Grace Lutheran Church.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church at 3 PM on Saturday, August 21. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

Grace Lutheran Church

Saturday 8/21, 3:00 pm

Arlen L. Edgar, (87) of Midland, Texas passed away on Monday, June 14, 2021. Arlen was born on March 30, 1934 in Stephenville, Texas to Zeddie and Ruby Edgar. Arlen attended Tarleton State University from 1952-1953, where he also served in the Army ROTC. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduatedContinue Reading

See Condolences

In 2000, as banquet-speaker during an East Texas field trip, Arlen gave a hilarious presentation. Next day, he and I sat together on the bus. For hours, we exchanged war stories (summer oilfield jobs in college), London stories, and like that. For the past 20 years, I visited Arlen whenever in Midland. He was always generous to share whatever might be useful, and introduced many Permian Basin people that he thought I should know. Back in the 1980’s, I was struggling to pitch some kind of oil and gas investment concept. I received one particular, politely-worded letter in reply: “no interest”. I had forgotten about it. (There were SO MANY “no interest” replies. ALL of them, actually!) Closing down my warehouse last year, I came across that letter, to realize that it was signed by Arlen! Midland will not be the same. Rest in Peace, Arlen.

We are grateful that we had the opportunity to know Arlen & Betty. Our now-grown children remember his antics and his counsel fondly. Wishing you peace and comfort in your memories.

Dear Arlene, You have been one of the pillars of the PENG department at UTPB. Thank you for everything.

Over the past 50 years in the oil business and politics I have been lucky to know several men who made other folks lives better - Arlen Edgar is foremost. His intelligence, experience, integrity and sense of humor were exceeded only by his sense of fellowship. As a result of Arlen's input I doubt that he ever met anyone who did not become a friend. All of us will miss communicating with Arlen to receive his treasured thoughts. My condolences to Mark and Brad and their families on the loss of a great role model and exemplary human being.

Professor Dibble and wife Helen, Berkeley CA. We share your sadness. We will miss our spirted debates about the Presidents from Midland.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Professor Dibble and wife Helen, Berkeley CA. We share your sadness. We will miss our spirted debates about the Presidents from Midland.

I am deeply saddened by Arlen's passing. There is so much more I want to learn from him. He was a wonderful man and I am honored to have known him and to have him as a friend.

Growing up in Midland, graduating with a Petroleum Engineering degree from UT Austin and then beginning my career with Amoco, Arlen and I had quite a bit in common. His sense of humor, positive attitude and genuine love of all will always be remembered and cherished. It will be difficult coming to the realization that I won't be running into Arlen again in this life, but his impact on my life will always be with me. Godspeed and Hook 'Em!!

My thoughts and prayers go out to my American host brothers Mark and Brad and their families! I met Arlen in July 1983, and the first thing he and his wife Betty told me when I arrived as their German Exchange Student: “You call us Mom and Dad.” The hospitality “Mom and Dad” offered to a complete stranger was unprecedented for me, and it still is. The Sunday mornings, going to church in the black English cab all together, the lunches afterwards, the evening at Summer Mummers sometime 1984, our road trip to Big Bend, … so many wonderful memories. He had a great sense of humor, his laughter to some of the jokes cracked in the Saturday Night Life Show are still ringing in my ear, almost 40 years later. I won’t be able to introduce my children to him now, which I regret, but I will make sure to circle by the Petroleum Museum with them one of these days. He will be dearly missed, yet the fond memories of him will live on.

Arlen was a giant. An excellent engineer but an even better person - from when I 1s met him in 1981. I learned a lot from him, about the oil patch & engineering to W. Tx history, but also had great fun from RPI Odysseys in TX & NY, to the Mummers and MCT. On one early business visit, without my knowledge he changed my Friday return flight to NYC as he told me I had to go the MHS pep rally and then to the game that night vs Odessa!!

Arlen was a career long mentor and good friend. Of the many local oilmen who made Midland an important place on the world map, Arlen was a man among men. His wisdom and community service will be greatly missed.

I was associated with Arlen Edgar when he served on the Board of Directors for the Abell-Hanger Foundation and I was on the Abell-Hanger staff. His wide interest in the Midland community made his input very valuable. Mr. Edgar was always very kind and friendly and full of interesting stories. Only a few days before I learned of his passing I finally got to watch the Iron Orchard movie where he made a cameo appearance as a wheeling and dealing oil man gathered with other oil men at the historic Settles hotel in Big Spring, Texas for an important meeting - a role he was well suited for. Rest In peace, Mr. Edgar knowing you served God and our community well. You will be missed and I will especially miss your humor, love of life, and your oil field related Christmas cards. My condolences and prayers to the family.

Arlen's character was an inspiration for me. I will miss him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Brad & Mark and their families, and Arlen's sister. What wonderful memories you must have, and that goes for anyone who knew Arlen! How many of us got cartoons sent to them if it could be applied to you! Always thoughtful, and had the most interesting and funny stories that could fill up a book. I know heaven is rejoicing to have such a man....he will always be remembered, and greatly missed.

Arlen preceeded me (by many years) as President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers so I was blessed to have his excellent advice on many complicated issues. I think he sympathized with me when, as a young Welshman, I moved to Monahans as a production manager. He was determined that I should enjoy the experience of West Texas. He was an example to us all of a true gentleman. We will miss him.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.