Hugh Hale Goerner Passes Away
Hugh Hale Goerner, 84, of The Hills passed away on April 7, 2007 in Austin, TX.
Hugh was born on July 6, 1922 in Paige, Texas to Kenneth E. and Helen Hale Goerner. He grew up in Kingsville, Texas. He attended both Shreiner Institute (now University) and University of Tulsa on athletic scholarships.
At Tulsa, he earned All-American Honorable Mention honors as a guard and place kicker. He played in both the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl. In the middle of his junior year, January 1942, he left school to enlist in the Army Air Corps.
Hugh served as a navigator on a B-17, with the 4th Squadron, 24th Air Group of the 8th Air Force, flying 28 missions and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the EAME Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars.Following his discharge from the Army, he re-enrolled at The University of Tulsa. Attending on the G.I. Bill, he earned a B.S. and M. S. in Petroleum Engineering graduating in 1947.
During his long career in the petroleum industry, he held executive positions with Carter Oil, Humble, Esso Eastern, Creole (Venezuela), Esso Libya, Exxon U.S.A. and Exxon New York. He was the last American to be president of the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) in Saudi Arabia, serving from 1978 to 1984.
Following his retirement to Austin, Texas, he served on the board of Camco and the board of trustees of the University of Tulsa. At the Hills of Lakeway he served on the A.C.C. and P.O.A.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia; brother Lewis; sister Margaret Johnson; son Michael and wife Jeab, and grand-children; Cope, Joy, and Greg; daughter Gail Billington and husband Michael; son Jon; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a date to be determined. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. The family's heartfelt thanks to neighbors and friends for all their caring support during the past weeks.