Thomas (Tom) Cambridge

Thomas (Tom) Cambridge, 87, of Amarillo, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023.

His memorial service will be held  11 AM, Saturday, April 1, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Amarillo.

Tom was born on May 16, 1935, in Atlantic, Iowa to parents Louise Grace and Boyd Murray Cambridge.   He was the middle child of three boys, flanked by Edward, his older brother, and Daniel, his younger brother.   Louise raised Tom to understand at an early age the importance of faith, love, and reverence for God, and to honor His glory through service to others.

Tom met his future wife, Norma Jane Taggart at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.  They would marry on March 1, 1957, and then move to Lincoln, Nebraska where Tom completed his master’s degree in Geology, while also serving his duty in the US Army.  Upon graduation, he was hired by Texaco to become an oil field geologist.   He and Norma packed up their 1959 Chevrolet Impala, a 1-year-old son Tommy, and moved sight unseen to Amarillo, Texas.  Tom worked for Texaco for 5 years, then Texas Pacific Oil for 2 years, before joining forces with A.L. Nail to form Cambridge & Nail Petroleum Exploration.  As a consulting geologist, Tom developed a reputation first in the Texas Panhandle, and then nationally, as a respected scientist and keen interpreter of oil and gas field statistics.  Tom eventually went solo forming Cambridge Production Inc. and maintained an esteemed career in the oil business for over 50 years.  His success earned him the honor of Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association’s “Living Legend” award in 2012.

Tom always placed God first, and his family a close second, but after that, he gave generously of his time to serve his community, his church, and the less fortunate.  He served on the Boards of Northwest Texas Hospital, the Amarillo Chapter of The American Cancer Society, The Campfire Girls, and the organization closest to his heart – Opportunity School, an institution that he and Norma helped to found in 1969.  He was a long-standing member of First Presbyterian Church, and served as Deacon, Elder, and Benefactor.   In 2014, the Amarillo Globe News named him their “Man of the Year”.

When he wasn’t looking for oil and gas, Tom enjoyed fly fishing in Montana, the occasional golf game, dove and quail hunting in the Texas Panhandle, and traveling with his family.  And he loved a good steak.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Norma, younger brother Daniel, and first-born son, Jeffrey.  He is survived by his son Tommy, of Cochecton, NY, his daughter Nancy Walker, and her husband David Walker, of Amarillo, his daughter Jane Clemence, and her husband Cary Clemence of Amarillo, grandson Ross Walker of Houston, and granddaughter Libby Clemence of Boulder, Colorado.

The family extends a special note of gratitude to the caregivers at Goodcare Health Services, and specifically, Mr. Brian Raef, who steadfastly looked after Tom’s day to day care during his final year.  They are also very grateful to Mary Carasco and her team of caregivers, as well as the nurses and staff at BSA Hospice.  They request any donations in Tom’s name be made to Opportunity School, 1100 S. Harrison, Amarillo, TX, 79101.