Frank Sterling
Encyclopedia
Frank Prior Sterling was an oilman and one of nine founders of the Humble Oil & Refining Company
of Houston, Texas
in 1917. Humble was one of the best oil & gas finding companies in the history of petroleum exploration. Humble merged with Standard Oil of New Jersey to form Exxon, Inc., (now ExxonMobil
). Frank Sterling, who was a post-production expert, became a Vice President of Humble in 1921.
Frank Sterling's brother Ross was the first president of Humble who later went on to be Governor of Texas
. Frank, Ross and his other brothers grew up on Double Bayou
in Chambers County, Texas. They were ambitious men who built a sail boat to carry vegetables to Galveston
for sale. Frank and Ross had a sister Florence Sterling who worked at Humble and became Corporate Secretary.
Frank Sterling married Isla Randa Carroll of Temple, Texas
. Frank and Isla had one child, a daughter, Carroll Sterling. In the early 1930s, Carroll Sterling married Bert F. Winston. They had two children: Isla Sterling Winston and Bert Winston. After divorcing
Bert Winston in the 1940s, Carrol Sterling married John Cowan who later died in a plane crash around 1950. Carroll Sterling Cowan then married Harris Masterson III with whom she built Rienzi. Upon their deaths Rienzi was formally given to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. In 1957, Carroll Sterling Masterson's daughter Isla Carroll Winston married businessman Thomas Radcliffe Reckling III. Isla Carroll Reckling and family still maintain a strong interest in Rienzi and its operational affairs. Thomas and Isla Reckling have eight children and numerous grand children.
In 1925, Frank and Isla Sterling built a house on Lot 5 (1505 South Blvd.) in the fashionable Broadacres subdivision . The Sterling Mansion was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts in 1948, but was then sold to Gus Wortham
in 1951. Lyndall Wortham bequeathed the house to the University of Houston
on her death in July 1980, to be used as a residence for the University President.
Humble Oil
Humble Oil and Refining Co. was founded in 1911. The company would later consolidate with Standard Oil of New Jersey to become Exxon.-Early history:...
of 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 ...
in 1917. Humble was one of the best oil & gas finding companies in the history of petroleum exploration. Humble merged with Standard Oil of New Jersey to form Exxon, Inc., (now ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
). Frank Sterling, who was a post-production expert, became a Vice President of Humble in 1921.
Frank Sterling's brother Ross was the first president of Humble who later went on to be Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
. Frank, Ross and his other brothers grew up on Double Bayou
Double Bayou, Texas
Double Bayou is an unincorporated area in Chambers County, Texas, United States.-External links:...
in Chambers County, Texas. They were ambitious men who built a sail boat to carry vegetables to Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
for sale. Frank and Ross had a sister Florence Sterling who worked at Humble and became Corporate Secretary.
Frank Sterling married Isla Randa Carroll of Temple, Texas
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
. Frank and Isla had one child, a daughter, Carroll Sterling. In the early 1930s, Carroll Sterling married Bert F. Winston. They had two children: Isla Sterling Winston and Bert Winston. After divorcing
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
Bert Winston in the 1940s, Carrol Sterling married John Cowan who later died in a plane crash around 1950. Carroll Sterling Cowan then married Harris Masterson III with whom she built Rienzi. Upon their deaths Rienzi was formally given to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. In 1957, Carroll Sterling Masterson's daughter Isla Carroll Winston married businessman Thomas Radcliffe Reckling III. Isla Carroll Reckling and family still maintain a strong interest in Rienzi and its operational affairs. Thomas and Isla Reckling have eight children and numerous grand children.
In 1925, Frank and Isla Sterling built a house on Lot 5 (1505 South Blvd.) in the fashionable Broadacres subdivision . The Sterling Mansion was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts in 1948, but was then sold to Gus Wortham
Gus Wortham
Gus Sessions Wortham , was a businessman and civic leader.-Biography:He was born on February 18, 1891 in Mexia, Texas to John Lee Wortham and Fannie Sessions. He moved with his father, John Lee Wortham, to Houston, Texas, and opened John L. Wortham and Son, an insurance agency...
in 1951. Lyndall Wortham bequeathed the house to the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
on her death in July 1980, to be used as a residence for the University President.