Lewis David Simon, III

Lewis David Simon III On July 26th, 2022, Lewis David Simon III of Telegraph, Texas, was welcomed into Heaven after a courageous battle with cancer. Lewis was born on August 10, 1947 in McCamey, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lewis David Jr. & Patricia Simon. He is survived by his college sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Judith, daughter Lori Nolen, sons Lewis ‘Dave’ Simon IV, Jud Simon & wife Kristy, Jaron Simon & wife Kelley, brother George Simon and sister Polly Owen & husband Raymond. Lewis is survived by 7 grandsons: Tanner Nolen, Cinco Simon, Gunnar Roberts, Chase Simon, Luke Simon, Gray Simon & Field Simon, and 2 granddaughters: Kenna Taylor & husband Austin and Kaylen Nolen. Lewis is also survived by numerous members of his extended family and friends too numerous to mention. He was an active Elder of College Street Church of Christ.

Lewis was a graduate of Crane High School Class of 1965 and Sul Ross State University Class of 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and minors in History and Geology. Lewis was born into the West Texas Oilfield. His father returned from WWII and went on to become a Production Superintendent in Kermit, Texas, for Gulf Oil Company. Lewis was born and raised in the Gulf Company Oil Camp where his father and grandfather worked. He began his career before turning 18 years of age working at Crane Well Service in Crane Texas on the McElroy Ranch in the sandhills around Crane. He worked for his father and future brother -in- law, Raymond Owen, in the area until going to college at Sul Ross. After marrying Judith, he did as most men in the area did at the time; he immediately returned to working in the oilfield to support his new bride and future family. Lewis began his drilling career working as a Derrick man for Parker Drilling Company in 1967 drilling deep gas exploration wells in the Ellenberger and Gomez fields between Alpine and Ft. Stockton, Texas. Lewis continued to work for Parker Drilling being promoted to Driller and Toolpusher throughout the Ellenberger field from Alpine to Mentone, Texas. Lewis moved with the rigs and eventually ended up living in Kermit, Texas, in 1977. In 1977, Lewis was recommended for a “Company Man” position with Mobil Oil out of the Midland, Texas, regional office.

He began his supervisor career for Mobil Oil working in and around Mentone developing the historic Ellenberger gas fields. Some of the accomplishments in that field included the 4 Mile Club and the highest calculate absolute open hole volume gas well in North America for 2 years, the Abernathy No. 1. Clayton Williams later eclipsed the record with the Catoga No. 1 well. Lewis continued his career at Mobil Oil for 40 years including the merger between Mobil and Exxon to form the largest oil company in the world at that time. During his 40 -year career, Lewis was promoted to Sr. Drilling Supervisor and worked around the world in the Mobil Oil New Ventures Exploration group. Lewis drilled exploration wells in more than 8 states domestically, in 3 Oceans and on 3 continents. Some of his career highlights included the first Under Balanced Drilling program in Indonesia in the Arun field successfully completing the project and once again setting the world record for continuous gas production during a connection while performing maintenance on a well. During the last 4 years of his career, his son Lewis D. Simon IV (Dave) joined him at ExxonMobil as a Sr. Drilling Supervisor. Lewis and Dave continued to work on exploration and development wells until 2005 when Lewis retired from ExxonMobil. One year later Dave left ExxonMobil as well and founded Total Energy Services, Midland, Texas, Division in partnership with his Uncle Raymond Owen. For the next 5 years, Lewis returned to his roots as a Sr. Drilling Consultant and Superintendent drilling Strawn and Ellenberger gas wells South of the I-10 corridor in Terrell and Reeves County, Texas. In 2008, Lewis accomplished another world record for the cumulative 12 ¼” hole drilled in a 24- hour period on the Banner Ranch in Terrell County, TX. Lewis formally retired in 2009 leaving behind a legacy. His 3 sons Lewis D. Simon IV, Jaron Paul Simon, & Jud Brandon Simon are currently all happily employed in the petroleum industry. Lewis’ individual efforts in the petroleum industry pioneered technology for all future generations. Lewis was very proud of his career and of the fact that he was part of the greater team of men and women that provide economic energy to the world.

In retirement, Lewis loved working and living life to the fullest on his ranch on CR 120.

Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Saturday July 30, 2022 at the College Street Church of Christ.  Interment will follow at the Simon Ranch Cemetery in Sutton County.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Tanner Nolen, Cinco Simon, Chase Simon, Luke Simon, and nephews Chan Price and Mike McClellan. Honorary pallbearers will be Gray Simon and Field Simon.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Lewis’ name to College Street Church of Christ, American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s, or a blood donation in his name.