Note: this post was orginally entered on the old Post-Nuke version of the site. For the purpose of linking it and tracking traffic, I have copied it verbatim to the WP side, and given it the same date/time stamp. Original entry here.
So Hizzoner picked Jack Blanton to run the new anti-pension campaign. Who is this philanthropist, this person working tirelessly to make our world a better place? Well, he’s bound to have left some footprints somewhere.
And indeed he has. I present to you, straight from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Jack Blanton’s bio:
“Regarded as one of Houston’s most exceptional business and civic leaders, Blanton joined Scurlock Oil in 1950 and quickly ascended to its presidency in 1958. He helped make Scurlock the company it eventually became – one of the largest crude oil gathering and transportation entities in the country. In 1982, when Scurlock because a subsidiary of Ashland Oil Inc., Blanton was named chairman and CEO. At this time Scurlock was collecting 200,000 barrels of oil a day, transporting 2% of the nation’s oil and had annual sales of $2 billion. Blanton currently serves as President of Eddy Refining Company. He has served on the Board of Directors of SBC Corporation, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Texas Commerce Bank, Baker Hughes Inc., Ashland Oil Inc., and Pogo Producing Company, retiring from all by reason of age. ”
Jack Blanton’s Bio
Jack Blanton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 with a double major, earning his degree in three years in both government and history, receiving academic awards in both disciplines. He represented the University of Texas on both singles and doubles all three years. He was the Southwest Conference doubles champion in 1945. He continued his education at the University of Texas School of Law, earning his L.L.B. in 1950.
Regarded as one of Houston’s most exceptional business and civic leaders, Blanton joined Scurlock Oil in 1950 and quickly ascended to its presidency in 1958. He helped make Scurlock the company it eventually became – one of the largest crude oil gathering and transportation entities in the country. In 1982, when Scurlock because a subsidiary of Ashland Oil Inc., Blanton was named chairman and CEO. At this time Scurlock was collecting 200,000 barrels of oil a day, transporting 2% of the nation’s oil and had annual sales of $2 billion. Blanton currently serves as President of Eddy Refining Company. He has served on the Board of Directors of SBC Corporation, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Texas Commerce Bank, Baker Hughes Inc., Ashland Oil Inc., and Pogo Producing Company, retiring from all by reason of age. While Blanton was extremely successful in the oil business, his greatest achievements occurred in the role of civic leader. When he became Chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas in 1987, higher education in Texas was faced with a 26% budget reduction. Blanton was, in part, responsible for influencing the Texas legislature to more fully support the University of Texas system (and, therefore, higher education).
Also, during the tumultuous oil and real estate crises of the eighties, Blanton was Chairman of the Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in resolving conflict.
In 1990, Blanton was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Endowment, the largest private foundation in Texas, founded in 1937. Today, the Houston Endowment has education as its major focus, which has been at the core of Blanton’s career as a public servant.
Approximately 80% of the grants are dedicated to the greater Houston area, supporting abused women and children, health needs of lesser income families, civic beautification, cultural areas and virtually all areas of education (from pre-school through graduate programs). At any given time, the Houston Endowment is responsible for providing scholarship to approximately 5,000 young people. In addition, Blanton has personally endowed scholarships at the University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Huston-Tillotson College, Wiley College, Texas Southern University and Lon Morris College. In 1997, the Houston Endowment made a $12 million donation toward financing a new building (to be completed in 2002), which the president of the University of Texas announced will be named the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art.
In addition, Blanton and his late wife Laura Lee Blanton, have given a building at Southern Methodist University which is now under construction, and which will be named the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building.
Blanton serves on the governing boards of The Methodist Healthcare System, the Texas Medical Center, the Texas Medical Center and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. He also serves as a director of the Greater Houston Partnership. Blanton has been honored with 14 citations, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas and the Santa Rita Award (a UT system-wide award given to a limited number of individuals who had made valuable contributions over an extended period to the University of Texas System). He was inducted into the Texas Philanthropy Hall of Fame in 1998 and awarded the Joseph Jaworski Leadership Award by the American Leadership Forum (also in 1998). Blanton is a member and Past President of the Texas Philosophical Society; the former Chairman of Governor’s Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives; Past President of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the Young President’s Organization; a member and the Past Chairman of the Administrative Board at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
In 2002 Blanton was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. He has been honored by the Southwestern Legal Foundation, the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Texas Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Houston Youth Symphony and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He has received honorary doctorates from Centenary College and St. Thomas University.
I said movers and shakers, didn’t I?
Update: And after you finish reading that, go here and read a bit more about this “humble” man.