Jon David Gooch

1938 - 2024

“Get David to write a letter.” That was a statement often made by business associates, friends or family members with a problem that needed to be addressed. David made his points concisely with erudite flair. As a lawyer, words were his business. As a friend, his words were inciteful and witty. And as a father his creative fun stories packed a moral punch.

Jon David Gooch was the son of Dr. J. Oliver Gooch of Midland, Texas and Jennie Phillips Gooch, of Midland and Horseshoe Bay, Texas. He attended grade school in Houston and spent his teen years in Midland. At UT Austin, a member of the SAE fraternity, he graduated with business and law degrees.

David’s legal career was based in Houston, except for the years employed by Gulf + Western in New York City. He loved those times as a young lawyer surrounded by astute businessmen, travelling the world, learning from the best.

In Houston, he served as General Counsel of Field International Drilling Company, Houston Oil & Minerals and Service Corporation International.

David engineered a roll-up of companies which went public on the NYSE. Thereafter with partners he bought and led a group of companies located in Hawaii.

David died January 8, 2024, days short of his 86th birthday, at his home in Horseshoe Bay. His “forever” home, however, was his beloved property located west of Houston. David enjoyed dinners with friends, playing golf and driving fast cars. Though a principled and responsible man, he never stopped being that 1950s West Texas kid in jeans and a tee-shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled-up in the sleeve.

He is survived by his wife, Melanie Bartos Gooch; his five children: Jennie Brown, Julie Carlton (husband Len), Jamie Gooch, Joel Gooch (wife Elizabeth), and Jon Gooch; granddaughters, Madeleine Carlton and Genevieve Gooch; and his brother Joel Gooch.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell