Eddy C. Scurlock
Encyclopedia
Eddy Clark Scurlock was an American oil industry
tycoon
, entrepreneur
, millionaire
and philanthropist
. He founded the Scurlock Oil Company
, the Eddy Refining Company
and the charitable organization
Scurlock Foundation
in Houston, Texas
.
, the son of Robert William Scurlock (January 5, 1862–May 9, 1950) and Ella Octavia Clark (September 13, 1877–February 12, 1970). His siblings were Winona Scurlock (1902-1990); Willie Faye Scurlock (1907-1971); Juanita Clark Scurlock (1909-1985); and Werter Chappell Scurlock (1911-1985).
He grew up in the small town of Tenaha
. After high school, he went to work at a Standard Oil
pipeline
construction
site as a kitchen assistant. He later moved to Houston, where he bought a gas station
.
. A decade later, he bought a Houston refinery
and renamed it Eddy Refining Company
.
His wife was Elizabeth Belschner (March 12, 1904–June 9, 2003), daughter of Andrew Belschner and Martha Quinn. They had one daughter, Laura Lee Scurlock (June 4, 1928–August 6, 1999). Laura married Jack Blanton
, who became a Scurlock Oil and Eddy Refinery executive.
Scurlock established and chartered the charitable Scurlock Foundation
in April 1954. He was a chairman
of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, an advisory director of Texas Commerce Bank
, and a director of Lon Morris College
and Texas Medical Center
. Scurlock also benefited the Methodist Hospital System
and the Institute of Religion in Houston.
Eddy C. Scurlock died at age 83 in Houston.
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...
tycoon
Business magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
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 founded the 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...
, the 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....
and the charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Scurlock Foundation
Scurlock Foundation
The Scurlock Foundation is a charitable organization located in Houston, Texas, with the goal to provide funding for medical research, health care, religion, education, recreation, the arts, and animal protection, as well as other charitable enterprises....
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 ...
.
Early life
He was born in Bronson, TexasBronson, Texas
Bronson is an unincorporated community in west central Sabine County, Texas, United States. It is located on U.S. Highway 96 at the junction of State Highway 184, nine miles west of Hemphill....
, the son of Robert William Scurlock (January 5, 1862–May 9, 1950) and Ella Octavia Clark (September 13, 1877–February 12, 1970). His siblings were Winona Scurlock (1902-1990); Willie Faye Scurlock (1907-1971); Juanita Clark Scurlock (1909-1985); and Werter Chappell Scurlock (1911-1985).
He grew up in the small town of Tenaha
Tenaha, Texas
Tenaha is a town in Shelby County, Texas, United States- established February 2, 1886. The population was 1,046 at the 2000 census. The town's name is taken from the Caddo language for "Muddy Water". Tenaha is a town in Shelby County, Texas, United States- established February 2, 1886. The...
. After high school, he went to work at a Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
site as a kitchen assistant. He later moved to Houston, where he bought a gas station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
.
Career
In 1936, Scurlock borrowed money and formed Scurlock Oil CompanyScurlock 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...
. A decade later, he bought a Houston refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
and renamed it 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 wife was Elizabeth Belschner (March 12, 1904–June 9, 2003), daughter of Andrew Belschner and Martha Quinn. They had one daughter, Laura Lee Scurlock (June 4, 1928–August 6, 1999). Laura married Jack Blanton
Jack S. Blanton
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 and Louise G. Wynn . Blanton was raised in Houston, Texas, where his father was general manager of the chamber of commerce...
, who became a Scurlock Oil and Eddy Refinery executive.
Scurlock established and chartered the charitable Scurlock Foundation
Scurlock Foundation
The Scurlock Foundation is a charitable organization located in Houston, Texas, with the goal to provide funding for medical research, health care, religion, education, recreation, the arts, and animal protection, as well as other charitable enterprises....
in April 1954. He was a 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...
of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, an advisory director of Texas Commerce Bank
Texas Commerce Bank
The Texas Commerce Bank was a Texas-based bank acquired by Chemical Banking Corporation of New York in May 1987...
, and a director of Lon Morris College
Lon Morris College
Lon Morris College is a private junior college located in Jacksonville, Texas, United States, and is the only school affiliated with the United Methodist Church that is owned by an individual conference and not the denomination as a whole...
and 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...
. Scurlock also benefited the Methodist Hospital 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...
and the Institute of Religion in Houston.
Later years
In 1982, Scurlock Oil Company was sold to Ashland Oil. Eddy Refining Company and the Scurlock Foundation continue operations.Eddy C. Scurlock died at age 83 in Houston.