TITLE: In memory of Frank M. Pool of San Angelo.

SUMMARY: In memory of Frank M. Pool of San Angelo.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The city of San Angelo lost one of its most admired and influential community leaders with the passing of Frank M. Pool on January 12, 2017, at the age of 98; and WHEREAS, Born in Hill County, near Grandview, on August 29, 1918, Frank Pool was the son of Francis Marion and Elizabeth Morrow Pool; he grew up in Waco, where he developed a strong work ethic from a young age, and he went on to receive a degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University in 1941; while there, he was recognized as a distinguished student and served as a member of the Corps of Cadets; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pool briefly worked for Humble Oil before being called to active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II; as a platoon leader in the First Armored Division, he fought against German forces in North Africa, and he was later deployed to Europe as a captain and company commander with responsibility for 400 men and 44 tanks; he and his troops saw heavy combat during the Allied advance on Germany, and for his valorous efforts, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts; and WHEREAS, Mr. Pool met and began a whirlwind romance with the love of his life, the former Elizabeth Hughes, while he was temporarily in the United States between wartime deployments; the couple exchanged wedding vows on February 16, 1946, and enjoyed 66 years of marriage before Mrs. Pool passed away; they were blessed with three children, Frank, Mary Ellen, and Martha, and they took great pride in watching their family grow to include many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and WHEREAS, In 1948, Mr. Pool and his wife moved to San Angelo, where he founded Pool Well Servicing Company; this marked the beginning of a long and prosperous career in the energy business, which showcased his engineering skill and considerable creativity as he sought new ways of exploring for oil and gas; his company eventually became a giant in the industry, with more than 1,000 rigs located in the United States and over 20 foreign countries; he served the firm as president from 1948 to 1978 and then as managing director and president emeritus until 1995, and he continued to act as an oil industry consultant into the 21st century; and WHEREAS, A leader in his profession and his community, Mr. Pool contributed his time and expertise as a member of the Petroleum Engineering Industry Board at Texas A&M and served on the boards of San Angelo National Bank and Texas Commerce Bancshares, among numerous other businesses and organizations; he was a strong advocate for integration during his tenure as president of the San Angelo Board of Education from 1954 to 1959, and he also served on the State Board of Education; in recognition of his wide-ranging volunteer efforts, he was named San Angelo's Citizen of the Year in 2007; and WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to his faith, Mr. Pool was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, where he served as deacon and taught a Sunday school class; in his free time, he enjoyed playing golf, hunting, fishing, traveling, and cheering for the Aggies; more than anything else, he treasured the time he spent with his family, and some of his happiest memories involved welcoming friends and loved ones to the beautiful mountain home that he and his wife shared in Lake City, Colorado, his favorite place on earth; and WHEREAS, Frank Pool built a life that was extraordinarily rich in accomplishments and in meaningful service to others, and although he is deeply missed, he will always be remembered with the greatest respect and affection by all who had the good fortune to know him; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Frank M. Pool and extend sincere sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Frank Pool. Darby Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 859 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on March 23, 2017. Chief Clerk of the House