C. Fred Chambers (March 22, 1918 – November 13, 1989) was an American oilman and political activist. He was the co-founder of several oil and has companies active in North America and the Netherlands. He was an aide to former President George H. W. Bush.
C. Fred Chambers | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1918 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 1989 (aged 71) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Texas School of Law |
| Occupation(s) | Oilman, political activist |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse | Marion Glasco |
| Children | 8 |
| Relatives | Joseph Glasco (brother-in-law) |
Early life
editC. Fred Chambers was born on March 22, 1918, in Dallas, Texas.[1][2] He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin.[1] He subsequently served in the United States Navy.[1]
Business career
editChambers worked as a businessman in the oil industry in Dallas and Midland, Texas.[2] With William Kennedy, he co-founded C & K Petroleum in 1953.[2] The oil and gas company was active in the Permian Basin, the Gulf Coast, the Mid-Continent oil province, the Rocky Mountains and Western Canada.[1] By 1981, they sold C & K Petroleum to Alaska Interstate Company for US$200 million.[2]
With Kennedy and J.M. Ritchie, Chambers co-founded Ritchie Oil C&K, another oil and gas company based in Alberta, Canada.[1] They also co-founded C&K Nederland Company in the Netherlands.[1] By 1980, Chambers co-founded Chambers Explorations with two of his sons, Charlie and Bill.[1]
Chambers was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in 2005.[1]
Political involvement
editChambers became friends with George H. W. Bush when they were both oilmen in Midland.[2] In December 1968, Chambers was invited by Bush to a dinner at the Alibi Club in Washington, D.C., in honor of astronaut Frank Borman.[3] Meanwhile, Chambers chaired the finance committee of Bush's 1970 senatorial campaign.[2]
Personal and death
editChambers married Marion Glasco, the sister of painter Joseph Glasco.[2][4] They had eight children.[2] They resided in Houston, Texas, and they maintained an additional property in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[2]
Chambers died on November 13, 1989, in Houston, Texas.[2] His funeral, held at St. Michael's Catholic Church, was attended by President Bush and Secretary of State James Baker.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "C. Fred Chambers, Houston, TX". The Petroleum Museum. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "C. Fred Chambers, 71, Texas Oil Executive". The New York Times. November 16, 1989. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ Bush, George W. (2014). 41: A Portrait of My Father. London: Ebury Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 9780553447781. OCLC 883645289.
- ^ "Obituaries: Joseph Milton Glasco". The Galveston Daily News. June 3, 1996. p. 4. Retrieved May 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "NATION IN BRIEF : TEXAS : Bush at Funeral for Longtime Friend". The Los Angeles Times. November 17, 1989. Retrieved May 8, 2016.