Bill D. Saxon

Bill D. Saxon passed away on May 13, 2014 after a short battle with a very aggressive cancer. Mr. Saxon was born June 20, 1928 to George and Syble Saxon in Paoli, Oklahoma. After his father’s bank failed in the crash of 1929, the family moved to Norman, Oklahoma. He grew up in Norman and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1951 after a brief stint in the Marines towards the end of World War II. His experience in the Marines led to a leadership role in ROTC during his college years, which, in turn, led to his Army service in the Korean War as a forward observer for the artillery.

Just prior to graduation, he married Wylodean Cornelison on March 20, 1951 and the following year began his service in Korea, where he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. Upon his return, he joined the training program at Gulf Oil Company, which transferred him all over the Oklahoma “oil patch,” learning the business from the ground up. He left Gulf to gain experience in equipment, drilling and exploration and production companies, working towards his goal of starting his own company. He reached that goal by forming Saxon Oil Company in 1963. Along the way, he and Wylodean had three children and settled in Abilene, Texas.

After exploring and producing oil and gas all over the Eastern Shelf in North Central Texas during the 1960’s, he moved his operations to Midland. Saxon Oil became one of the most active companies in the Spraberry Trend Area in the early 1970’s, eventually drilling over 700 successful wells through a series of public and private partnerships. Saxon Oil Company became public in 1980.

Throughout his career, he remained a very active University of Oklahoma alumnus. At OU, he advanced the arts and culture of Oklahoma through his support of OU’s two major museums – the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art – enjoyed annually by thousands. At the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, he created the Wylodean Saxon Memorial Lecture Series to bring distinguished artists, collectors and authors to the museum and to other University programs.

In 2013, Mr. Saxon received the Regents’ Alumni Award for his help in building and maintaining the cornerstones of OU, providing support to the Boyd House Renovation, OU Centennial Arches and the Energy Center. He has given his time and provided guidance and leadership to many OU boards and organizations. He was a life member of the President’s Associates and was inducted into OU’s Seed Sower Society.

On May 9, 2014, the University of Oklahoma awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Mr. Saxon. Although too ill to attend, he enjoyed a live feed of the presentation of the degree at the Regents Luncheon and the conferring of the degree at Commencement, both of which resulted in standing ovations, and which Mr. Saxon declared was “a great send-off.”

In his early 30’s, Mr. Saxon took up the game of golf, and it became an integral part of his life. Through golf, he formed many friendships and traveled the world, becoming a member of Preston Trail Golf Club, Pine Valley Golf Club, Eldorado Country Club and many others. His athletic swing and rare touch around the greens allowed him to maintain an excellent game through the years. In fact, on March 15, in his very final round prior to his illness, he shot an 82 at the age of 85, which was the 301st time he shot his age or better. He enjoyed nothing more than a competitive foursome coming to #18 with money on the line. He was a leader at Preston Trail Golf Club, where he was affectionately known as “the Captain.”

Mr. Saxon is predeceased by Wylodean Cornelison Saxon, his wife of 52 years, who passed away in 2003, his brother George Saxon Jr., his sister-in-law Glora Gay Childers and his brother-in-law Doug Cornelison. He is also predeceased by his second wife, Fay Stephens Saxon, who passed away in 2012. He is survived by his three children, Sandra Saxon Brice, Steve Saxon and his wife Cathy, and Sheri Saxon Foah, and by his grandchildren, Brett Saxon, Henry Foah, Alex Cantalupo and her husband Emidio, Saxon Brice, Pierce Saxon and Andrew Foah. He is also survived by his brother Walter Saxon, his sister Martha Kennedy and her husband Gary, and his sisters-in-law, Claudette Hooper and her husband Charles, and Barbara Jones.

Services will be held at The Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave, Dallas at 2:00 pm, Friday, May 16, 2014. A graveside service will be held at the IOOF Cemetery, 1913 N. Porter, Norman, OK at 11:00 am, Saturday, May 17, followed by a reception at the Crawford University Club in the Oklahoma Memorial Union from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wylodean Saxon Endowment Fund at Nexus Recovery Center in Dallas or a contribution to the Sooner Heritage Scholarship Fund or the Wylodean Saxon Lecture Series at the University of Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com.