Page 17: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Sep/Oct 2013)

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Editor’s Column

Colloquy

Nina Rach

Ars longa, vita brevis his adage was adapted from the Christie, and in 1952, bought into a an institution dedicated to environ- frst two lines of Aphorismi, substantial acreage position north of mental issues and sustainable growth.

T written by the ancient Greek physi- Fort Worth. HARC now has a staff of more than 40 cian Hippocrates about 400 BCE. They Then called the “Wildcatter’s research scientists and generates more translate: “life is short, arts (crafts, Graveyard,” it became better known as than $20 million in annual revenue.

techniques) long,” which can be taken the heart of the Barnett Shale play. The Mitchells donated more than to mean that it takes a long time to In 1962, the Mitchell brothers $100 million to Texas A&M, culmi- acquire skills and expertise, but one bought out smaller shareholders and nating in the George P. and Cynthia has only a short time in which to learn reorganized the company as Mitchell Mitchell Institute for Fundamental and use them. & Mitchell Oil & Gas Corp. By 1964, Physics and Astronomy in 2009. Time limits our accomplishments Mitchell & Mitchell owned 1000 pro- Along the way, Mitchell donated in life. This summer was punctuated ducing wells. the land for and supported the estab- by the untimely death of our colleague In 1972, Mitchell Energy and lishment of the Texas A&M campus at Offshore Engineer, James Self. A Development Corp.’s initial public at Galveston. TAMUG began in 1962 team player, James was talented, con- offering was listed on the American as the Texas Maritime Academy, and scientious, kind, and generous. He is Stock Exchange, and George Mitchell expanded in 1968, when Mitchell already missed. retained about 60% of the stock. gifted 100 acres on Pelican Island.

These same qualities describe Texas In 1991, the US Department of TAMUG offers undergraduate programs oilman and philanthropist George Energy subsidized Mitchell Energy’s in marine (biology, fsheries, engineer-

P. Mitchell, who died July 26, the frst horizontal drilling in the Barnett ing technology, sciences, transporta- day after James. Mitchell’s life is the shale. Mitchell Energy later pioneered tion) and maritime (administration, quintessential American success story, the use of hydraulic fracturing and studies, systems engineering) disci- as he was the son of Greek immigrants found particular success with slick plines, oceans and coastal resources, and became one of the wealthiest water fracturing by 1998. The rest, as marine environmental law and policy. people in the state. He was diligent they say, is history, and the shale boom The graduate programs include marine and hardworking, graduated frst in his has taken on astounding proportions. resources management and marine class from Texas A&M University with George Mitchell completed the sale biology. a degree in petroleum engineering in of Mitchell Energy to Devon Energy in In 2011, George Mitchell signed 1940—and later became the univer- January 2002 for about US$3.5 billion. The Giving Pledge, committing the sity’s most-generous donor. majority of his wealth to charity. The After Mitchell left Texas A&M, he Giving Pledge is an effort to encourage

Philanthropy worked for Amoco Production Co. in In 1978, the Mitchells founded the world’s wealthiest to give most of

East Texas and Louisiana, then went the Cynthia and George Mitchell their wealth to charity, promoted by to serve in the US Army Corps of Foundation, “a mission-driven, grant- Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda

Engineers during World War II. After making foundation that seeks innova- Gates. As of July, 113 billionaires have the war, in 1945, Mitchell and his wife tive, sustainable solutions for human signed this pledge.

Cynthia moved to Houston, where he and environmental problems.” The Mitchell’s values, behaviors, and initially worked as an independent oil projects and initiatives launched by work ethic were shaped by his upbring- consultant, and they began a family this foundation are too numerous ing in Galveston. His life, work, and that would grow to ten children. to list. legacy exemplify a quote from the clas- In 1947, George and his brother In 1982, George Mitchell funded sic Greek philosopher Aristotle: “We

Johnny became investors and own- and launched the Houston Advanced are what we repeatedly do. Excellence ers of Oil Drilling Inc. with H. Merlyn Research Center in The Woodlands, then, is not an act, but a habit.” oedigital.com September 2013 | OE 19 019_OE0913_Colloquy.indd 19 8/18/13 8:09 PM