Autry Carl Stephens

With great sadness the family announces the passing of Autry Carl Stephens on August 16, 2024, in Midland, Texas after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was 86.

Autry was born in DeLeon, Texas on March 8, 1938, to Martin Elmore and Lila “Hazel” Stephens of Comanche County, Texas. The fourth of five children, Autry grew up and worked on the family farm.

Autry was charged with preparing the soil, planting peanuts, plowing and, in Autry’s words, an “endless amount of hoeing in 102-degree heat.”  It was on the farm where he learned first-hand the value of hard work. However, as high school graduation neared, his dad reviewed his farming performance over the past summers and suggested he consider non-farming career options.  At the time, there was a multi-year drought ongoing, so it did not take much urging for him to change career directions. Autry’s experience on the farm fostered his love of adventure and being outdoors, which sparked an early interest in the petroleum industry.

After graduating from DeLeon High School in 1956, Autry enrolled at Tarleton State College as an engineering student, and later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 1958.  He earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in petroleum engineering from The University of Texas at Austin’s Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering in 1961 and 1962, respectively.  Autry would say that earning his engineering degree was a life-changing event which opened doors into a world of opportunity.  He was forever grateful to his parents for their support and guidance.

After graduation in 1962, Autry was thrilled to receive an offer from Humble Oil (now ExxonMobil) in Midland, Texas as a petroleum engineer.  In the fall of 1962, he took a leave of absence from Humble to fulfill his R.O.T.C. military obligation; he entered the Army Corps of Engineers as a 2^nd Lieutenant and underwent basic training in Ft. Belvoir, VA, as well as jump school in Ft. Benning, Georgia.  Autry was then assigned as a platoon leader to an Army pipeline construction company that was headquartered a few miles outside of Paris, France.

Autry left the Army as a 1st Lieutenant and returned to his engineering job with Humble Oil in Monahans, Texas in the fall of 1964.  After three years in Monahans, he was transferred to Abilene for 6 months and then back to Midland in 1967. While he enjoyed working for Humble, and gained valuable experience, he would say it became obvious he did not quite fit in at Humble.  In 1969, Autry joined First National Bank of Midland as a petroleum engineer and loan officer.  After 10 years at the bank, he “hung out his own shingle” as a consulting petroleum engineer.  This consulting work was up and down. After experiencing the disappointment of losing an important client, he acknowledged it may have been one of the best things that ever happened to him.  The loss of his main client pushed him to move out of his comfort zone into other areas. At the age of 41, with a wife and two young children, he began drilling and operating his own oil and gas wells as a sole proprietor.

Autry would say the life of an independent oil producer has been a roller coaster ride – characterized by short periods of prosperity, followed by long periods of struggle.  After the crash in oil prices in 1998, he formed Endeavor Energy Resources, LP in 2000. He would say his success was due to being highly motivated, creative, working hard – and not being afraid to take risks. He was resilient, opportunistic and determined. He was very proud to be able to provide steady jobs for many people over the years in Midland and to provide a product that is vital to America’s well-being.

Although he did spend a tremendous amount of time and energy building Endeavor, Autry appreciated the importance of family as well. On his 50-year high school reunion questionnaire, his answer to the question “what is your best or most unique experience since DeLeon High School” – he wrote – my “marriage to Linda and the birth of Joe and Lyndal. The parenting of our children has been the most meaningful thing I have experienced.” Later, he found true joy and delight in being “Grandad.” He loved hearing (and sharing) stories of his grandchildren’s antics and accomplishments. He loved them very much and was very proud of them.

In 2014, The University of Texas honored Autry with the Distinguished Engineering Graduate Award. In 2018, Autry was a Distinguished Alumni Honoree for The University of Texas – Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (Cockrell School of Engineering).

The Permian Basin Petroleum Association honored Autry in 2021 with their Top Hand Award. In 2023, Autry was named to the Hart Energy Inaugural Hall of Fame. He also received the 2023 Wildcatter Award from the Midland Wildcat Committee.

This year Autry will receive the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Exes; the North America Energy Capital Assembly (Energy Council) 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award; and the Hart Energy 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Autry valued hard work, commitment, loyalty, family, and friendship.  He believed in handshake deals and giving second (and third) chances to help others. He enjoyed sharing a cup of coffee at the Petroleum Club of Midland with friends. This fellowship with friends and colleagues was a time-honored tradition for years and was an especially important time to him throughout his battle with cancer – we are truly grateful to all his friends, especially Ted, who made sure he was able to attend these discussions of daily happenings, coffee, and connection.

He continued to go into the Endeavor offices until he absolutely couldn’t any longer.  He loved the people and the energy, and found great comfort and joy being there. He knew the success of Endeavor was the result of collaboration and was grateful for the entire Endeavor team.

To those closest to Autry, he was a friend, a mentor and an inspiration; to us, he was also a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Autry will always be remembered by his friends for his humility, determination, resiliency, courage, and dry sense of humor. To his family, Autry was a steady, calm, and reassuring presence. He will be dearly missed.

Autry was preceded in death by his father Martin Stephens, mother Lila “Hazel” Stephens, brothers Homer Elmore Stephens and Ralph Irwin Stephens, and sister Norma Stephens Price.

Autry is survived by his wife, Linda Nagy Stephens; son, Joseph Stephens, his wife, Deanna; daughter, Lyndal Stephens Greth, her husband, Richard and their son and daughter; sister Debra and her husband Jack; and many extended family members.

We would like to thank Cathy, Cip, Dr. Gibbons, and many others at MD Anderson; his friend Javaid, for often providing travel arrangements for Autry to MD Anderson; Dr. Vadyala, Dawn, Norma, Miriam, Aimee, Hadijah, Jessica, Nancy, Maria, and Jennifer for their attentive care to Autry during these difficult days. We would also like to thank Bobbi, Meredith, Jessica, Meredith, and Melissa of Hospice for their support and care.

A visitation will be held Friday, August 23, 2024, from 5:00pm-7:00pm at The Branch at Nalley-Pickle & Welch at 3800 N. Big Spring St., Midland, TX, 79705. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at The Petroleum Club of Midland. There will be a private family burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Midland County, High Sky Children’s Ranch or a charity close to your heart.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Autry Carl Stephens, please visit our Tribute Store.