Credited |, Related topics: With offices in Austin and The Woodlands, the foundation has eight full-time staff members and operates with professional support donated by the Mitchell Family Corporation. 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. . 1 in his class at A&M, then Texas Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas, and captain of the tennis team. 08/19/1985 - Former President Jimmy Carter and oilman George Mitchell attend the opening day of Technology Transfer: U.S./ Mexico Perspectives, a two-day conference sponsored by the Houston Area Research Center at The Woodlands. Just a year or two before Mitchell died, Jones said, he bought buildings on Hendley Row at the end of the Strand. ", As with his business efforts, Mitchell was involved in the details. George P. Mitchell rides with a grandson as he, family and friends participate in a procession after a memorial for his wife Cynthia Woods Mitchell Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, in Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston. Everyone, he said, told him he was just wasting his time and money. After graduating from Ball High School, he left for Texas A&M University where he studied petroleum engineering and geology. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Leadership. Connect to 5,000+ Mitchell profiles on Geni, Mar 4 1882 - Shaw, Neosho, Kansas, United States, Sep 22 1961 - Cherryvale, Montgomery, Kansas, United States, Stephen Patrick Mitchell, Amanda Mitchell (born Burroughs), Lillie May Mitchell (born Hardesty), Eva Fuller, hn William Mitchell, Dora Rachel Reinhart (born Mitchell), Charles Henry Mitchell, Mary Frances Anderson (born Mitchell), Effie May Mitchell, Shaw, Neosho, Kansas,, Neosho County, KS, United States. In the New World, his father opened small cleaning and shoeshine businesses but also was a lifelong gambler. 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. During the calendar year 2022, the Board of Directors of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation is made up of 12 members, including two generations of the Mitchell family. The idea was a bit of a stretch, said Kyle Shelton, a program manager at Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research. He is survived by three daughters, seven sons, a sister, 23 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. The commitment to integrate nature - the master plan left a third of the acreage as green space - was "revolutionary" at the time, Shelton said. Skip Ancestry main menu Main . His original ideal of homes that would be affordable for a range of incomes also faces challenges today. George loved the beauty of the piney woods and always insisted on a sustainable timber harvest that was gentle on the ecosystem. People Projects Discussions Surnames | An Eagle Scout, he also speaks conversational Portuguese and fluent Spanish. "Because of Mitchell's persistence we are today witnessing an unprecedented boom in domestic energy production and the associated economic benefits in Texas and nationwide," Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman agreed Friday. The posting said he died of natural causes while surrounded by family. In addition, George and Cynthia Mitchell have donated personally or pledged in excess of $260 million to causes, programs, and institutions close to their hearts. He was No. After the 2008 storm, he spent $24million to renovate three of his hotels on the island. A Mitchell Energy and Development Corp. driller sits on a prospect hole in North Texas in 1987. He envisioned a community of 120,000 residents comprising different races and socio-economic strata and living in harmony with nature within the piney woods. He was instrumental in founding - and funding - the Houston Advanced Research Center, a non-profit scientific and engineering research consortium based in The Woodlands Research Forest. Always an ace in math and a star student, he went on to Texas A&M College (now University) to study Petroleum Engineering and Geology. Baytex Energy Corp. announced on Tuesday that is has agreed to acquire Eagle Ford Shale pure play Ranger Oil Corp. for $2.5 billion, including net debt of $650 million. George Mitchell's interests and successes were varied. View Subscription Options Lionizing Mitchell was born in Galveston on May 21, 1919. The discovery was not a new oil or gas field, but rather a technique that the company developed to economically extract natural gas from otherwise unproductive shale rock. "Against the prevailing sentiments both within and outside the company, George persisted through 17 years of failures and incremental successes," the biography says. Some consider his innovation important in the context of energy security, making the United States less dependent on foreign sources of energy. [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. Johnny Mitchell joined the company as well, pairing the brothers under the banner Oil Drilling, Inc. with its founding partner, oil broker H. Merlyn Christie. 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. According to his biography posted by the Mitchell Foundation, the North Texas gas field that became the foundation of his oil empire was the result of a deal promoted by a Chicago bookmaker. Mitchell's funding and vision also boosted his hometown of Galveston. James Fiorentino, who started painting as a teenager, will unveil his latest baseball set at The Philly memorabilia show Mar. [9] but production is expected to more than triple by 2020. Advanced On Dec. 27, 2009, at 87, Cynthia Woods Mitchell passed away. George P. Mitchell, Chairman and CEO of The Mitchell Family Corporation, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in his downtown Houston office. Funeral arrangements were not immediately released. Michelle Robinson is the foundation's secretary; Spiros Vassilakis is the foundation's treasurer. George Mitchell, the founder of The Woodlands, talks to guests during the dedication of the George Mitchell statue at Town Green Park overlooking The Woodlands Waterway on Nov. 8. The statement from the Mitchell Family posted on the George and Cynthia Mitchell . Over the years, they bought and carefully restored seventeen 19th Century commercial buildings and gave new hope to a declining urban core. 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. Believing that transparent markets empower businesses, economies, and communities, Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) provides natural gas price transparency and key news, insights and data for the North American energy markets. George is now married. [23], Enabled by Mitchell's donation of $35 million, the Texas A&M University Physics department relocated to two new buildings in late 2009: The George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Fundamental Physics and Astronomy Building and the George P. Mitchell Physics Building. Because of the technological progress in industry fracking, George Mitchell is now known as the "pioneer of shale." The brothers had grown up poor children of Greek immigrants who settled in Galveston. ", 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. 05/17/2003--George Mitchell met with old friends, at left are Angelo Montalbano and Jim Yarbrough, at right is Don Mafrige, Steve Greenberg has his back to camera, Saturday, at the Kroger's on the Galveston Seawall, in the deli section, as they do every Saturday morning. Research genealogy for George P. Mitchell of Ohio, as well as other members of the Mitchell family, on Ancestry. 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. The master plan for the community called for preserving trees, protecting the environment, minimizing flooding and creating a "pleasant"[vague] urban environment. [22][failed verification][19] Mitchell also founded the Houston Advanced Research Center that explores strategies for sustainable development at the regional level. We are and will forever be grateful for the gift of this remarkable life. "There's no doubt that he helped make this world a better place.". His parents came to Galveston from Greece, where his father had herded goats. GEORGE P. MITCHELL, SPE, a pioneer in developing methods to produce shale gas economically, died 26 July in Galveston, Texas. Her day-to-day activities include, but are not limited to, management of staff, budgeting, systems, owner relations and managing the guest experience. Grant graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in Radio, Television and Film and from the American Film Institutes graduate program in Directing. Named Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. had $13 million worth of equipment on hand for a massive foam "frac" job at its Limestone County well in March 1980. The once-grand event had withered during World War II. Today, the area boasts 130 forested parks and 200 miles of trails. This year, the annual Forbes list of wealthiest Americans ranked him 239th with a net worth of $2 billion. Join our email list for updates on island news and events. "To say he was a great man with foresight and generosity isn't enough," Adm. Robert Smith III, the school's president, said. Forbes magazine this year listed Mitchell's wealth at $2 billion. 1.800.427.5747 C. GRANT MITCHELL BOARD CHAIR. A life-size bronze sculpture of Woodlands founder and business mogul George P. Mitchell was unveiled Thursday at the Town Green Park. Washington DC | New York | Houston | Pittsburgh | Mexico City Calgary | Chile. $30 Million Island Investment Is Planned (George P. Mitchell), Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob arrives, Oops! ( Nick de la Torre / Chronicle ), George Mitchell looks at his award, presented to him by IHS-CERA, for his involvement in shale gas development during a CERAWeek luncheon Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in the Hilton Americas hotel in Houston. The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation Show More Show Less 5 of 6. NGI All News Access. Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle Show More Show . 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. To help pay for schooling, Mitchell started a small laundry business, and he sold candy and stationery to fellow students. George and Cynthia Mitchell of Houston, Texas, were both raised as children of meager means who, throughout their lives, believed in giving back to the community that made their success possible and lending a hand to the less fortunate struggling to reach their potential. Mitchell hired Galatas in 1974 to help master plan The Woodlands, which is only one of 13 new towns in the country that's still around. More than 50 friends, family members and Mitchell himself . 10/05/1994 - Some of the 6,000 balloons drop at The Woodlands Mall opening ceremony in the mall center court on Wednesday, October 5, 1994. A partnership between Crescent Real Estate Equities and Morgan Stanley purchased the development for $543 million. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving network, Texas college students now allowed to carry guns on campus, How a legendary New Orleans bartender earned his place in history, Former Astros GM James Click hired by American League contender, Video shows chaos after Houston pickup truck lands on 4 cars, Texas UPS employees arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob hits city, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Your essential and exhaustive guide to 2023 Houston rodeo food, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving the network, Crosby ISD adopts 4-day school week, a first in Harris County, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, Tips for bringing your dog or cat on a flight, Houston leaders to vote on fate of Pappas' Hobby Airport contract, Hidalgo: more Ohio train derailment waste coming to Harris County, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. Genealogy for George P Mitchell (1882 - 1943) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. George Phydias Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia, who died in 2009, had 10 children. When a paymaster got tired of writing his long name and threatened to fire him, Mr. Paraskevopoulos took the paymaster's name, Mike Mitchell. 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. He waited tables in the residence halls; he sold candy; he built bookcases; he had a tailoring concession. Geni requires JavaScript! Heat, Energy, Affordability & Equity in Texas. The oil billionaire and creator of The Woodlands was often seen casually strolling through the downtown tunnels at lunchtime. 6 of 9 7 of 9 Commemorative tribute to George P. Mitchell, by Jay Hester, depicts George Mitchell with two of his grandchildren. "The Strand had other investors, but Mr. Mitchell was the most significant one, and he certainly brought the most vision," said Dwayne Jones, executive director of the Galveston Historical Foundation. [20] The Mitchells also underwrote the National Academies' Our Common Journey: A Transition Toward Sustainability,[21][failed verification] the 1999 report that defined the role of science and technology in moving toward sustainability. Photographed Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, in the Fairfield Room, Four Seasons Hotel. She was active in the Parent Teacher Association, and she led the church summer school. [15], Mitchell and his wife Cynthia, along with the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, have distributed or pledged more than $400 million in grants to causes, programs, and institutions.[16][17]. Beginning in the early 80s, George and his team of engineers and geologists began testing new technologies in the shale formations of the company's North Texas gas fields. Consortium All rights reserved. "It was an attempt to create a different kind of city, and one that is tied to a longer history of utopian ideals: If only we could design the right type of community then everything would work perfectly. 02/1992 - Independent oil and gas mogul George Mitchell stands in front of the construction site of Strand Harborside, a Galveston Island development that will include a hotel and shops. "His story was quintessentially American," the family statement said. Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz, right, reaches up to touch the face of the sculpture of her father, The Woodlands founder George P. Mitchell, after it was unveiled at Town Green Park Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, in The Woodlands, Texas. Tim Welbes and Alex Sutton, co-presidents of The Woodlands Development Company, unveil the statue, the latest in a series of tributes to Mitchell and his family, which include a school, a library, an entertainment venue and a nature preserve. Based George Phydias Mitchell (May 21, 1919 July 26, 2013) was an American businessman, real estate developer and philanthropist from Texas credited with pioneering the economic extraction of shale gas. He brought on landscape architect Ian McHarg to consult on the project. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Watch: Astros SP Luis Garcia debuts new windup after rule changes, Former KHOU anchor turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, The only Houston rodeo food guide you'll need, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving network, Texas college students now allowed to carry guns on campus, How a legendary New Orleans bartender earned his place in history, Former Astros GM James Click hired by American League contender, Video shows chaos after Houston pickup truck lands on 4 cars, Texas UPS employees arrested, charged with trafficking cocaine, Texas Agriculture and Mechanical College of Texas, Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob hits city, Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious on-air interview with reporter, Watch: Houston Astros' Luis Garcia debuts new windup, Former KHOU 11 anchor Lily Jang turns layoff into lucrative real estate career, Your essential and exhaustive guide to 2023 Houston rodeo food, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban, KPRC 2 anchor Brandon Walker announces he is leaving the network, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Crosby ISD adopts 4-day school week, a first in Harris County, Bun B on bringing Southern rap stars to Houston's Rodeo, Tips for bringing your dog or cat on a flight, Houston leaders to vote on fate of Pappas' Hobby Airport contract, Hidalgo: more Ohio train derailment waste coming to Harris County, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. "He knew he could do better. NGI Archives He graduated from Galvestons Ball High School and then attended Texas A&M University. By far the biggest discovery of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. came in the late 90s, and it stands as a testament to the intellect, optimism, and perseverance of George Mitchell. 2023 Bald Head Island Limited, LLC. George Mitchell (d. 2013) pioneered the hydraulic fracturing technique --fracking -- for unearthing natural gas shale. ( Nick de la Torre / Chronicle ), George P. Mitchell (cq) rides with a grandson as he, family and friends participate in a procession after a memorial for his wife Cynthia Woods Mitchell Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, in Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston. "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. Steward estimated in the early years, "probably 90% of the people" in the firm didn't believe shale gas would be profitable, and that Mitchell's company didn't even cover the cost of fracking on shale tests until the 36th well was drilled. Mitchell, the son of a Greek immigrant who ran a dry cleaning business in Galveston, became one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. George Mitchell, Chairman and CEO of The Mitchell Family Corporation, is seen in a Nov. 11, 2009 photo, in his downtown Houston office. 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". Mitchell sold his energy company in 2002 for $3.1 billion. His Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, founded in 1979, has made more than $400 million in gifts. HOUCHRON CAPTION (06/22/2003): Cynthia Mitchell used to take care of George; now that she has Alzheimer's, he takes care of her. Losing his salary arbitration case, and hearing what the Milwaukee Brewers said in his arbitration hearing has not been received well by pitching ace, Corbin Burnes. Funded In 1947, George bought a small interest in one of his exploration clients. 6 of 51 7 of 51 George P. Mitchell, Chairman and CEO of The Mitchell Family Corporation, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, in his downtown Houston office. Entrepreneur George Mitchell joined Homart Chairman Michael Gregoire and executives from the four main mall tenants - Dillard's, Foley's, Mervyn's and Sears - in welcoming shoppers. 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.

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