His summer jobs in the 1930s Texas oilfield were hot and dirty, but for Houston high schooler Joe Wellborn they fueled dreams of a future career.

Wellborn went on to earn a petroleum degree at Texas A&M University and spend four decades with the company known today as ExxonMobil. Now he has created a scholarship to help others pursue their goals.

“I want to give back to the school that did so much for me,” the retired Exxon Co. operations superintendent said.

His contribution of $30,000 to the Texas A&M Foundation will establish the Joseph H. Wellborn, Sr. ’41 Endowed Scholarship in Petroleum Engineering. Matching funds from ExxonMobil Foundation will help complete the gift.

“This scholarship from Mr. Wellborn will be instrumental in helping Texas A&M attract and retain the most highly qualified students to the field of petroleum engineering—and in providing graduates who will meet the needs of a growing oil and gas industry,” said Dr. Stephen A. Holditch, petroleum engineering department head and holder of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Endowed Chair.

Wellborn’s student days at Texas A&M were busy. A member of the Corps of Cadets, he was B Battery Field Artillery’s first lieutenant. After classes he waited tables at Sbisa and Duncan dining halls to pay expenses, yet still made time to participate in the Duncan Volunteers and the Houston, Newman and Petroleum Engineering A.I.M.E clubs.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1941, he worked briefly for Humble Oil and Refinery Co. before joining the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of captain, training soldiers at Fort Sill. After atomic bombs hit Japan, Wellborn escorted 562 men and 30 officers from Portland, Ore., to Nagasaki, Japan, for occupational duties.

Following the war Wellborn returned to Humble Oil where his ability to instruct young minds benefited the company through years of growth and change. He said: “I trained a lot of young engineers, and my motto was always ‘safety first.’ ”

Wellborn’s vigorous health also benefited his employer. He achieved 43 years of perfect attendance before retiring in 1984.

Wellborn met his future wife, Emily Alexander, when he was stationed at Fort Sill. They were married 65 years at the time of her death in 2008.

Among their gifts to Texas A&M are a President’s Endowed Scholarship, Endowed Opportunity Award scholarships and a fellowship for the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. Longtime members of the 12th Man Foundation and the Century Club at the Association of Former Students, they supported the Kyle Field expansion, George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and other academic projects.

“Mr. Wellborn continues to this day to care about Texas A&M and the importance of providing scholarships to deserving students. His scholarship will help ensure that future generations of Aggies will have the resources they need to complete their education,” said Brady Bullard, director of development for petroleum engineering with the Texas A&M Foundation.

Wellborn’s family includes three children: Joseph H. Wellborn Jr., Texas A&M Class of 1966; and Pegi Cariker and Sue Cox, both graduates of Baylor University. Also seven grandchildren: Joseph H. Wellborn III, Texas A&M Class of 1990; Ryan D. Wellborn, Texas A&M Class of 1992; Emily C. Cox, Texas A&M Class of 2000; Alex Wellborn, Sam Houston State University Class of 1997; Elizabeth Wellborn Richardson, St. Edwards University Class of 2001; Emily Cariker Shuart, Baylor University Class of 2003 and Oklahoma University Law School, 2006; and Allan Cox, Texas Tech University Class of 2002, whose wife Gina Meredith is Texas A&M Class of 2000.

Written by Exa York

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