Jack S. Blanton
Encyclopedia
Jack Sawtelle Blanton is an American
oil industry
executive
, civic leader and philanthropist
.
He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana
, the son of William N. Blanton (June 23, 1890-November 27, 1967) and Louise G. Wynn (September 21, 1898-July 5, 1989). Blanton was raised in Houston, Texas
, where his father was general manager of the chamber of commerce
. After attending Lamar High School, Blanton earned a B.A.
at the University of Texas at Austin
(UT) in 1947 with a double major
in government and history, and an L.L.B.
at UT Law School
in 1950.
That same year, Blanton went to work for Eddy C. Scurlock
at Scurlock Oil Company
in the Division Order Department. He rose through the company ranks to become its president
in 1958, and eventually CEO
and chairman
in 1983, a year after the company was sold to Ashland Oil. He retired from his position in 1988 to become the president of Eddy Refining Company
, his current job.
He has had three wives. Blanton was married to Laura Lee Scurlock (June 4, 1928-August 6, 1999), daughter of Eddy C. Scurlock; the Laura Lee Blanton Building at Southern Methodist University
is named for her. On October 14, 2000, he and Lucinda B. Bailey (November 4, 1934-March 2, 2002) were married. He and Virginia "Ginger" Nelson were married on November 30, 2002. He and Laura Lee Scurlock Blanton had three children, Elizabeth Louise Blanton (born February 1, 1951); Jack Sawtelle Blanton, Jr. (born July 28, 1953); and Eddy Scurlock Blanton (born May 25, 1955).
Blanton has been a civic leader in Houston, where he served as the chairman of the board of Houston Endowment Inc.
He also served on the boards of the Methodist Hospital Healthcare System
, the Texas Medical Center
, the Houston Zoo
, and the Jesse H. Jones School of Management
at Rice University
, among many others. From 1985-'91, he was a Regent
of the University of Texas, appointed by Governor White
. He served as chairman from 1987-'89. During this time, Blanton had a hand in influencing the Texas Legislature
to more fully support the University of Texas System
.
During the oil
and real estate
crises of the 1980s, Blanton served as chairman of the Greater Houston
Chamber of Commerce, where he notably helped resolve conflict with effective communication and good working relations.
In 1997, the University of Texas at Austin renamed its art museum the Blanton Museum of Art
in his honor after receiving a $12 million donation from Houston Endowment Inc.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
oil industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
executive
Corporate title
Publicly and privately held for-profit corporations confer corporate titles or business titles on company officials as a means of identifying their function in the organization...
, civic leader and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, the son of William N. Blanton (June 23, 1890-November 27, 1967) and Louise G. Wynn (September 21, 1898-July 5, 1989). Blanton was raised in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, where his father was general manager of the chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. After attending Lamar High School, Blanton earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
(UT) in 1947 with a double major
Double degree
A double-degree program, sometimes called a combined degree, conjoint degree, dual degree, or simultaneous degree program, involves a student's working for two different university degrees in parallel, either at the same institution or at different institutions , completing them in less time than...
in government and history, and an L.L.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at UT Law School
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
in 1950.
That same year, Blanton went to work for Eddy C. Scurlock
Eddy C. Scurlock
Eddy Clark Scurlock was an American oil industry tycoon, entrepreneur, millionaire and philanthropist...
at Scurlock Oil Company
Scurlock Oil Company
The Scurlock Oil Company was a petroleum corporation with headquarters located in Houston, Texas.Founded in 1936 by Eddy C. Scurlock, the company was a tank car marketer of petroleum products, which emerged as an important transporter of crude oil and condensate.By 1982, the Scurlock Oil Company...
in the Division Order Department. He rose through the company ranks to become its president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
in 1958, and eventually CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
in 1983, a year after the company was sold to Ashland Oil. He retired from his position in 1988 to become the president of Eddy Refining Company
Eddy Refining Company
Eddy Refining Company is an oil refinery business with headquarters located in Houston, Texas.Founded in 1946 by Eddy C. Scurlock, owner and founder of Scurlock Oil Company, the refining company is a private business with annual sales of $1,700,000....
, his current job.
He has had three wives. Blanton was married to Laura Lee Scurlock (June 4, 1928-August 6, 1999), daughter of Eddy C. Scurlock; the Laura Lee Blanton Building at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
is named for her. On October 14, 2000, he and Lucinda B. Bailey (November 4, 1934-March 2, 2002) were married. He and Virginia "Ginger" Nelson were married on November 30, 2002. He and Laura Lee Scurlock Blanton had three children, Elizabeth Louise Blanton (born February 1, 1951); Jack Sawtelle Blanton, Jr. (born July 28, 1953); and Eddy Scurlock Blanton (born May 25, 1955).
Blanton has been a civic leader in Houston, where he served as the chairman of the board of Houston Endowment Inc.
Houston Endowment Inc.
Houston Endowment Inc. was founded in 1937 by Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones as an extension of their personal philanthropy to help establish institutions and organizations that help facilitate the growth of Houston and develop its people...
He also served on the boards of the Methodist Hospital Healthcare System
The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital is a hospital located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Established in 1919 as an outreach ministry of The United Methodist Church, Methodist is one of the most comprehensive teaching hospitals in the United States, with leading specialists in every field of...
, the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
, the Houston Zoo
Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is a zoological park located within Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, United States. Housing over 6,000 animals belonging to over 900 species, the zoo receives 1.6 million visitors each year and is the seventh most visited zoo in the nation...
, and the Jesse H. Jones School of Management
Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management
The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business is one of the academic units of Rice University in Houston, Texas. Named in honor of the late Jesse Holman Jones, a prominent Houston business and civic leader, the school received its initial funding in 1974 through a major gift from the Houston...
at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, among many others. From 1985-'91, he was a Regent
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
of the University of Texas, appointed by Governor White
Mark White
Mark Wells White is an American lawyer, who served as the 43rd Governor of Texas from January 18,1983-January 20,1987.-Biography:...
. He served as chairman from 1987-'89. During this time, Blanton had a hand in influencing the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
to more fully support the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
.
During the oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
crises of the 1980s, Blanton served as chairman of the Greater Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
Chamber of Commerce, where he notably helped resolve conflict with effective communication and good working relations.
In 1997, the University of Texas at Austin renamed its art museum the Blanton Museum of Art
Blanton Museum of Art
The Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art is the art museum and research center of the University of Texas at Austin. Formerly under the College of Fine Arts, the museum director now reports to the University's...
in his honor after receiving a $12 million donation from Houston Endowment Inc.