She was active in the Parent Teacher Association, and she led the church summer school. Many critical decisions were made in those first few yearsto abandon an earlier developers plans to build a second golf course on the island, but instead dedicate 200 acres of maritime forest as a preserve; to build no bridge to the island, but instead rely on ferry access and golf carts as the primary modes of transportation; and to buck the high-rise building trend overtaking coastal towns, but instead pursue a sensitive land plan that respected the islands natural environment. George Mitchell passed away at home in his beloved Galveston on July 26, 2013. Mitchell had long believed that natural gas could be extracted economically from shale, well before anyone thought it was possible. [30][2], harvnb error: no target: CITEREFSchmandt (, "The Father of the Barnett Natural Gas Field: George Mitchell", "The father of fracking: Few businesspeople have done as much to change the world as George Mitchell", "George Mitchell still pushes energy conservation: Oilman has worked for conservation since the Arab embargo more than 30 years ago", "George Mitchell, a Pioneer in Hydraulic Fracturing, Dies at 94", "Texas A&M Mourns Legendary Houston Philanthropist And Distinguished Former Student George P. Mitchell", Potential Supply of Natural Gas in the United States, "A "Shale Day" in honor of the sustainable research", "Devon Energy Hits 1 Tcf Milestone in Barnett Shale", "George P. Mitchell, billionaire philanthropist, dies at 94", "Letter stating Mitchell took the 'Giving Pledge', "Mitchell Gift to Endow Academies' Efforts in Sustainability Science", "Science and Technology for Sustainability Program (STS)", "Mitchell company settles wrongful death suit from capsizal of 'Cynthia Woods', "2011 Forbes Rich List Includes 8 Greeks", "Oil giant, developer George Mitchell dies at 94", "CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL Obituary (2009) Houston Chronicle", "George Phydias Mitchell Obituary (2013) Houston Chronicle", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", Funding Universe: Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_P._Mitchell&oldid=1135101877, Founder of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp.; philanthropist, Medal for distinguished achievement from Texas A&M Geosciences and Earth Resources Advisory Council (1980), Horatio Alger Award, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers first Award for Distinguished Service in the Petroleum Industry, Honorary doctoral degree from the University of Houston (1984), The Galveston Daily News Citizen of the Year and the Ima Hogg Historical Achievement Award (1988), Global Tomorrow Coalitions Lorax Award for contributions to the environment (1989), Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young and Inc. Magazines Master Entrepreneur of the Year (1992), Boy Scouts of Americas Hornaday Award for Environmental Achievement (1993), Galvestons Leonora Kempner Thompson Community Enrichment Award (1993), American Institute of Architects Jefferson Award, Texas Business Hall of Fame Award, the National Preservation Honor Award, Governors Award for Historic Preservation presented to Mr. And Mrs. Mitchell by Governor George W. Bush (1995), Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants honoree, and the Mirabeau B. Lamar Award (1996), Nature Conservancy of Texas Lifetime Achievement honoree (1997), Texas Society of Architects first Cornerstone Award presented to Mr. And Mrs. Mitchell, Galveston Historical Foundations Spirit of Elissa Award, Galveston Chamber of Commerces Christie Mitchell Award (1999), Prevent Blindness Texas People of Vision Award presented to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, World Future Societys Distinguished Service Award (2000), National Trust of Historic Preservations Crowninshield Award presented to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, Texas Society of Professional Engineers Engineering Dream Team member, Pioneer Oil Producers Societys Distinguished Service Award (2001), Institute for Energy Laws John Rogers Award (2002), This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 17:09. He was honored with Gas Technology Institutes Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. This year, the annual Forbes list of wealthiest Americans ranked him 239th with a net worth of $2 billion. The son of Greek immigrants, Mitchell was born May 21, 1919, and built and later sold his oil and gas empire, Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., to Devon Energy Corp. for $3.1 billion in 2001. With previous gifts supporting academic chairs, professorships and the Giant Magellan Telescope project, the Mitchells are Texas A&M's most generous modern benefactors, with donations totaling nearly $100 million; by 2011, his total contributions to universities and research organizations had reached $159 million. Mitchell's career as an oil man was only a fraction of his accomplishments, which included revitalizing Galveston's historic Strand District and developing The Woodlands, which he sold in 1997. Property Management Sales & Marketing Director. Earlier this year the Texas Legislature honored Mitchell for his many accomplishments, which extended far beyond the gas patch (see Shale Daily, May 15). That meant nearly half of the township's land would be protected from development. The oil billionaire and creator of The Woodlands was often seen casually strolling through the downtown tunnels at lunchtime. Mitchell donated part of his wealth to the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, which supports programs for the efficient and wise use of Earth's resources. He was particularly interested in the role of the business community in creating sustainable societies and he himself is "a model of linking entrepreneurial success to the sustainability movement". View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for George P Mitchell. A sculpture of The Woodlands founder George P. Mitchell stands over Town Green Park after it was unveiled Nov. 8. He has put more $50 million of his own money into renovating more than a dozen crumbling landmarks there, including the Hotel Galvez and the 1879 Leon H. Blum Building, which is now the Tremont House, a luxury hotel and Mitchell's residence. Wendy oversees all aspects of Bald Head Island Limited Property Management. "There's not a lot of companies that would stay with something this long," he said. Meredith Mitchell Dreiss is the foundation's president emeritus. Pioneering oilman and developer George Mitchell, with an award from the annual conference of the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas, where he was honored. We are and will forever be grateful for the gift of this remarkable life. In 1947, George bought a small interest in one of his exploration clients. Over the years, he spent tens of millions rebuilding his hometown of Galveston, resurrecting a long-dormant annual Mardi Gras celebration and singlehandedly providing money helping to restore the city's historic downtown Strand District. Mitchell brought in landscape architect Ian McHarg, who emphasized the need to preserve the natural watershed. Mitchell, a son of Greek immigrants, was the first to develop the Barnett shale field in Texas, later selling his company Mitchell Energy to Devon Energy for $3.5 billion in 2002. Eugene Krantz and George Mitchell, following the History-Making Texan Award presentation, attend the Texas State History Museum Foundation?'s Ninth Annual Texas Independence Day Dinner. Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle Show More Show . His company, Mitchell Energy & Development, was credited with more than 200 oil and 350 natural gas discoveries. HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2001): George Mitchell stands near his office building in The Woodlands, the development he created. HOUCHRON CAPTION (11/13/2003): Woodlands founder George Mitchell. "His ambition and success have transformed our region," Houston Mayor Annise Parker said. View Subscription Options George P. Mitchell, a 1940 petroleum engineering graduate of Texas A&M University, legendary oil and gas pioneer and real estate developer, and all-time most generous donor in Texas A&M history, has passed away at the age of 94. . George P. Mitchell, Chairman and CEO of The Mitchell Family Corporation, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in his downtown Houston office. Nonprofit He waited tables in the residence halls; he sold candy; he built bookcases; he had a tailoring concession. Find Mitchell's phone number, address, hospital affiliations and more. Mitchell's commitment to Galveston's revitalization helped the city recover from Hurricane Ike. ISSN 2158-8023 Mardi Gras movers and shakers from left Cynthia and George Mitchell and Dancie Perugini Ware. "George P. Mitchell was raised as a child of meager means who, throughout his life, believed in giving back to the community that made his success possible and lending a hand to the less fortunate struggling to reach their potential. The Woodlands is now home to about 100,000 people and one of the nation's busiest outdoor performing arts and entertainment venues there carries his wife's name, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. 06/13/1997 - oilman George Mitchell departs the hotel at the Woodlands Conference Center after announcing the sale of The Woodlands at a news conference. George P. Mitchell is one of 100 top global thinkers. "He will be forever remembered as a true visionary and philanthropist who helped shape the State of Texas and the world with his innovative ideas on energy, community development, science and technology. Mitchell's hometown of Galveston also benefited from his efforts and investment. "Only The Woodlands had established economic viability. Today, Mitchell is considered the pioneer of unconventional drilling, which launched the shale gas revolution. New towns were mixed-use communities constructed in undeveloped areas. [6] Mitchell made numerous other gifts to the university over the years, including the donation of a yacht named S.V. Geni requires JavaScript! He was survived by his sister, Maria Mitchell Ballantyne; his ten children, daughters Pamela Maguire, Meredith Dreiss and Sheridan Lorenz, and sons Scott, Mark, Kent, Greg, Kirk, Todd and Grant; 23 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 19 nieces and nephews. Mitchells knack for finding gas and oil made him a billionaire, but he also is considered one of the most generous philanthropists in the Greater Houston and Galveston area. The oil and gas industry is lionizing George Phydias Mitchell, 94, who died at his home on Friday in Galveston, TX. He is survived by three daughters, seven sons, a sister, 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He became the largest donor to his alma mater, Texas A&M, according to state Sen. Tommy Williams. The son of Greek immigrants, Mitchell was born May 21, 1919, and built and later sold his oil and gas empire, Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., to Devon Energy Corp. for $3.1 billion in 2001 (see Daily GPI, Aug. 15, 2001). Boutiques "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Mitchell," Tim Welbes and Alex Sutton, co-presidents of The Woodlands Development Co., said in a statement. Skip Ancestry main menu Main . He graduated in 1940 with a degree in petroleum engineering with a specialty in geology. Such rebirth was cause for celebration, so together they reintroduced the long-dormant Mardi Gras festivities to the island. Her day-to-day activities include, but are not limited to, management of staff, budgeting, systems, owner relations and managing the guest experience. "There's no point in mincing words. The brothers had grown up poor children of Greek immigrants who settled in Galveston. 05/22/2003--George Mitchell in his office at the Chase Bank Tower, Thursday. Median house prices doubled in just a decade, from $195,880 to $412,482. "My grandparents, Cynthia and George Mitchell, had an unflagging dedication and devotion to investing in and supporting the Galveston community throughout their lives," said Katherine Lorenz, chair of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation board. Mitchell's funding and vision also boosted his hometown of Galveston. Grant has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry, where he has written, directed, and/or produced both documentary and dramatic productions for television and film. [5], In 1940, George Mitchell earned a degree in petroleum engineering with an emphasis in geology from Texas A&M University. His mother died when he was 13 but impressed upon him at an early age the importance of an education-a sentiment shared and carried on by his father. Mitchell was born to Greek immigrant parents in the port city of Galveston, Texas in 1919. He participated in the development of about 10,000 wells, including more than 1000 wildcat wells. Starting in the 1970s, he rehabilitated historic buildings on the Strand. Oil man and real estate developer George P. Mitchell in his office in November 1979. Mitchell, who'd studied petroleum engineering at Texas A&M, discovered a knack for finding oil on his way to. He left behind 10 children, 23 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. George Mitchell stands in front of his new statue during the dedication of the George Mitchell statue at Town Green Park overlooking The Woodlands Waterway. In 1940, George graduated number one in his class in Petroleum Engineering and began work at Amoco in the oil fields of East Texas and Louisiana. But with World War II raging in Europe, he soon joined the Army Corps of Engineers and served throughout the war. ", By 1976, The Woodlands was the only such community not entering or approaching bankruptcy, East Carolina University historian Roger Briles wrote in 1998 in the academic journal Planning Perspectives. (He held on to a 5% stake of the company). Over the years, they bought and carefully restored seventeen 19th Century commercial buildings and gave new hope to a declining urban core. HOUCHRON CAPTION (06/22/2003): Cynthia Mitchell used to take care of George; now that she has Alzheimer's, he takes care of her. Amy work includes daily communication with owners and vendors. Join our email list for updates on island news and events. Throughout the 50s and 60s in Houston, Cynthia had more than most could handle in their household. Cynthia Woods a few years later became his wife. Today, the area boasts 130 forested parks and 200 miles of trails. We thank him for his many contributions, positive impact and related efforts to strengthen and support this important industry.. His remarkable career includes developing the Woodlands, restoring Galveston's Strand to greatness and, building AM Energy Company worth $3.5 billion. Credited Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. He graduated from Duke University, where he earned the Melcher Award for Excellence in Journalism and was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society. NGI Archives Founded ( Nick de la Torre / Chronicle ) . Mitchell's visionary support included the 135 acres on Pelican Island that Texas A&M-Galveston and the Texas A&M Maritime Academy call home. Sign in to get the best natural gas news and data. "[19], Working with Meadows and other national leaders Mitchell created The Woodlands Conference series and the International George and Cynthia Mitchell Prize, both dedicated to sustainable development. Energy industry veteran Stephen A. 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