Lawton L. Clark – November 18, 2012


Lawton L. Clark was born on October 9, 1924 in Fort Collins, Colorado.  He passed away gently into the presence of his Savior on November 18, 2012.
Memorial services will be held on December 1, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo with Paul Frederiksen officiating. A private family burial service was held at Llano Cemetery on Nov. 20, 2012. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mr. Clark was preceded in death by his father, Louis Clark, his mother, Laura Paske, and a sister, Carol Stockton. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Pat; two daughters: Peggy Oliphint and husband Scott of Philadelphia, PA and Anne Jones and husband Adam of Lecanto, FL; six grandchildren: Jared Oliphint and wife Jenny, Joel Oliphint and wife Kate, Bonnie Matthews and husband Andrew, Sarah Jones, Sam Jones and Sashi Jones; four great grandchildren: Liam Oliphint, Maggie Oliphint, Will Matthews and Senna Oliphint; and a half-sister, Mrs. Robert Mueller of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. Clark graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1948 with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
He served his country during World War II as a rifleman and qualified parachutist in the 17th Airborne Glider Infantry Regiment. He received a purple heart for injuries incurred in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Clark’s lifelong career was in oil and gas exploration. He was very proud to have followed in the steps of his father, grandfather and uncle who were drillers with Union Oil Company of California in the newly discovered Fort Collins and Wellington Oil fields.
Mr. Clark started his career with Sinclair Oil upon graduation from college. He was hired soon after by Union Oil Company of California as an oil scout in the Newcastle, Wyoming area. He transferred to Union’s office in Roswell, New Mexico in 1950 as District Landman, and then was transferred to Midland, Texas as Assistant Division Landman. In 1954 Mr. Clark married Sally Doyle in Midland.
In 1957, Mr. Clark moved to Amarillo, Texas to join a three-man organization known as Petroleum Exploration, Inc. which he considered a turning point in his career and the beginning of a valued, lifelong friendship with Boone Pickens. PEI later became Mesa Petroleum. During his twelve years with Mesa Petroleum, Mr. Clark served as Vice President of both the U.S. company and the Canadian subsidiary. Mr. Clark lived in Calgary from 1963 until his wife’s tragic accidental drowning in 1966, at which time he moved his family back to Amarillo.
From 1969 to 1984, Mr. Clark was the founder and President of Page Petroleum, Ltd., an Alberta corporation listed on the Toronto and American Stock Exchanges, headquartered in Calgary.  In 1981, Mr. Clark moved his family to Denver to open a U.S. subsidiary.
From 1984, he specialized as an Independent in Denver in oil and gas acquisitions and exploration in the United States and Canada.  In 2008, he moved his family back to Amarillo where he opened an office.
During his career, Mr. Clark has been a director or officer of oil and gas associations in Roswell, Midland, Amarillo and Calgary. He has twice been a National Director for the American Association of Petroleum Landmen. He was an active member of the Denver-based Independent Association of Mountain States, serving on membership and natural gas committees. He served a three-year term as President of the Denver Oil and Gas Pioneers.
Mr. Clark has served as an elder and teacher in his church and was an active civic leader in United Way, the Kilgore Foundation, Amarillo Mental Health and Retardation, Amarillo YMCA, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, Colorado Christian University and Young Life.
Mr. Clark was an avid reader, particularly of military history, and a collector of classic cars. He belonged to the Classic Car Club of America and won many awards and trophies for his outstanding automobiles.
Mr. Clark was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend who loved his Lord and fellow man.
The family requests that donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo, 1100 S. Harrison, Amarillo, TX 79101; Presbyterian Children’s Home, 3400 Bowie St., Amarillo, TX 79109; Westminster Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 27009, Philadelphia, PA 19118; Salvation Army, 400 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101; or to a favorite charity.

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