John William Rhea Jr.'s Obituary
Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend to many, passed away on February 29,2008. John was born on October 14, 1918, in Texarkana, Arkansas. He was an avid tennis player, snow skier, dancer, and a colorful storyteller. His strong opinions will not be forgotten. John was well known and loved for his wit, his humor, his tremendous generosity, and his love of all people. He continued to enjoy salsa music long after his dancing days were over. John grew up in Waldo, Arkansas and attended Magnolia A&M (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia, Arkansas. He then transferred to Louisiana State University where he received a Bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1940. John’s early professional experience with Standard Oil featured an assignment in the jungles of Colombia, South America. It was there that in 1943, John met and married Rosemary Thresher, his beloved wife. In 1953 John joined Southeastern Drilling Company in Dallas, later known as SEDCO. As Senior VP in charge of Latin American Operations, he spent many years on the frontier of the oil services sector, negotiating contracts and overseeing field projects. He helped SEDCO eventually grow into the world’s largest offshore drilling company. Through this work and his relationships with companies ,in Japan and the Persian Gulf, he earned many friends in the petroleum industry. John was a longstanding member of Dallas Country Club and the Dallas Petroleum Club. He was a devoted member for 50 years of Highland Park United Methodist Church and was especially proud of having led the effort to preserve the original sanctuary at the church. John was a very proud member of the Dallas community, often referring to Dal1as as the “Center of the Universe.” He gave back to the community in many ways. He served as President of Goodwill Industries and also as President of the Trinity River Authority. John was always eager to reach out to people in need. He never broadcast these gifts with fanfare, but his family would like to acknowledge his many contributions. These included: UT-Southwestern Medical Center Alzheimer’s Research, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Creative Arts Center, Aspen Music Festival, Aspen Foundation, Aspen Art Museum, United Way, Parkland Hospital, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Southern Arkansas University (two annual scholarships) Louisiana State University, (John W. Rhea, Jr. Endowed Professorship in Engineering), John was a longstanding member of Dallas Country Club and the Dallas Petroleum Club. He was a devoted member for 50 years of Highland Park United Methodist Church and was especially proud of having led the effort to preserve the original sanctuary at the church. John was a very proud member of the Dallas community, often referring to Dal1as as the “Center of the Universe.” He gave back to the community in many ways. He served as President of Goodwill Industries and also as President of the Trinity River Authority. Visitation will be Monday, March 3, 2008 from 6:00-7:30pm at Restland Funeral Home. Memorial services to celebrate John’s life will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 in the Main Sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, Tx 75205 at 4:00pm, with Reverend Bill Smith officiating. Memorials may be made to: Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia General Scholarship Fund, 100 E. University, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753-5000.
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