Burkett II, Benjamin Clinton (1936 - 3 Jan 2009) -- Businessman

OBITUARY

Burkett II, Benjamin Clinton A long-time Dallas resident, died January 3rd in Midland Memorial Hospital. He was 72. Ben was instrumental in the success of Dallas-based Lear Petroleum. He joined the company in 1968 as its Chief Financial Officer (and first employee) and guided it through its first public stock offering in 1974, a series of debenture offerings, and its listing on the New York Stock Exchange. He retired from the company in 1980.

A native of Amarillo, Ben attended New Mexico Military Institute, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and joined the investment banking firm of Dominick and Dominick in New York City as an oil and gas analyst. Ben returned to Amarillo in 1960 and joined Shamrock Oil and Gas Corporation's finance department. Ben left Shamrock to join Mesa Petroleum as the assistant to President T. Boone Pickens. While at Mesa, Ben engineered the acquisition of Hugoton Production Co., a company significantly larger than Mesa in what was one of the earliest hostile tender offers in the nation.

After his retirement from Lear, Ben pursued his love of golf at Royal Oaks Country Club. Growing up, Ben was a junior golf champion, captain of the golf team and winner of many tournaments. He continued in business as a management consultant for a number of public and private companies. Ben spent that last several years traveling the world with his wife Carole. Ben was predeceased by his parents Ben C. Burkett, Sr. and Ione Braudt Burkett of Amarillo and his eldest son Ben C. Burkett, III. He is survived by his wife, Carole Warren Burkett of Midland, three sons, Mike and David of Dallas, Bob of Florida, and his brother, Dr.Robert J. Burkett of Fort Worth. A memorial service for Ben will be held at 2pm, Tuesday, January 6 at the First Presbyterian Church of Midland. Friends of Ben in the Dallas area are invited to a celebration of his life at 4pm Saturday, January 10th. Please contact Mike at Mike.Bur kett@JouleEnergyLLC.com for details.

Published in Dallas Morning News on Jan. 5, 2009

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