"To promote and foster social relationships among its members and to assist the Engineering, Geological, Geophysical and Land Societies in their various requests."

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS // LIASON BLOG // CONTACT

The following article appeared in the May2001 issue of the Houston Geological Society Bulletin

HPAC News by Winona LaBrant Smith, HGS Liaison

As the HPAC year winds down, Edie Bishop, our extraordinary President hosted her final Board Meeting at River Oaks Country Club, inviting her Board and all new members,2010-2011, of HPAC to attend. What a superb outing! This was a perfect ending to her outstanding year! Good food, fellowship and many improvements for HPAC.

May 6, 2011, HPAC will host its Spring Luncheon/ Style Show at Braeburn Country Club, 8101 Bissonnet with installation of the 2011-2012 Officers. Fashions will be furnished by Excessories, Katy, Texas. The Show Coordinator, Marty Pearson, will be assisted by models from the HPAC membership. Mickey Murrell and Wanda Shaw are the Chairs with Connie Griffith, Marion Hawkins, Katherine McKinney, and Sheri McQuinn assisting. This is our final meeting for the year and one of the outstanding events for HPAC. Make your reservations ASAP.

The member of HPAC we have selected to highlight this month is Norma Jean Jones. She is a native Texan, born in Kingsville; where she was the third daughter of a man who really wanted a boy. She grew up on a farm 12 miles out of Sinton, Texas, attended Sinton public schools and graduated from Sinton High School. She left the farm and moved to Corpus Christi, there she enrolled in night courses at Del Mar College. She was married approximately 6 months later. There were four precious children born to that union, but unfortunately it ended in divorce.

Norma Jean entered the Petroleum Business through Pan American Petroleum Corporation and Standard of Texas as a legal secretary in Corpus Christi. She moved to Houston, where her sister lived, worked for Gulf Oil Corporation, Powder River Oil Company, and finally Austral Oil. There was little time left during those years for anything but holding down a job and being single Mom to her two girls and two boys. She was working at Austral in 1969 when she married the love of her life, Larry Jones, a petroleum geologist from Nebraska.

Larry and Norma Jean united their two families. Each had 4 children from previous marriages and they were blessed with another son for a total of 9 children (6 boys and 3 girls), which causes one to marvel at the success of their marriage. Their family has grown significantly now by the addition of 17 grandchildren. What a success story!

For twenty years Norma Jean enjoyed staying at home and nurturing the children. In her spare time she attended the University of Houston and HCC, earned an Associates Degree, got her Real Estate License, completed a two-year, in-depth Adult Bible Teachers Study, and learned to play tennis ( played a lot). Norma Jean currently plays on 3 tennis teams on 3 different leagues out of Nottingham Forest. She and Larry spent time at Lake Conroe teaching all those children how to water ski; in the winter they snow ski and river fish in the summer. They enjoy the outdoors!

While the children were in school Larry & Norma Jean attended literally hundreds of their sports events many Larry coached. Norma Jean spent time serving on the PTA Board, being Cub Scout Den Mother, Room Mother, Stratford Booster worker, teaching Sunday School for Jr. High students at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church, and serving on the Board for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church Day School.

During the last economic turndown, Norma Jean went back to work. She went to work in the completely new field of sales for GTE Mobilnet. She felt blessed to greatly exceed all sales quotas and was promoted to Major Account Manager - with Exxon as her account. Norma Jean worked a total of 8 years at GTE and retired from there to work for Larry in his company, Spartan Petroleum, and continues in this endeavor.

Norma Jean and Larry are both ordained Elders in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). Norma Jean serves as a Stephen.s Minister at Grace Presbyterian Church where they are active members. They are members of Westside Tennis Club and Nottingham Forest Club. Norma Jean is a member of HPAC, and has served as HGS Liason. She was the 2005-2006 President of HGA.

Larry received a Bachelor.s and Master.s Degree from the University of Nebraska where he is a member of the N Club. He started his career in Gainesville, Texas, with Standard of Texas. He remains an avid Nebraska football fan. He is a member of the Nebraska Geosciences Advisory Board and a past Recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award. Larry and Norma Jean are University of Nebraska Foundation Trustees. Larry is a member of HGS and AAPG where he has served as the Chair of House Delegates. He is also a member of the AAPG Foundation Trustee Associates. Wonder what they do in their spare time? How we appreciate both of them!!!!!

Remember that HPAC has several Interest Groups: Bridge (contacts: listed above) and/or Book Club (contacts: Martha Lou Broussard, 713-665-4428 or Phyllis Carter, 281-397-9888) and HPAC Exploring Houston (contact: Martha Lou Broussard, 713-665-4428 or mlbrou@rice.edu).

Geologists, please encourage your spouses to join HPAC, where they will have the opportunity to meet other spouses of Geologists, Geophysicists, Engineers and Landmen.

A HPAC membership form is included below. (Contact: Winona LaBrant Smith at 713-952-2007)