Marvin Eugene Odum Jr.

Marvin was the first of two children of Marvin Eugene, Sr. and Dorothy Hooks Odum.

Marvin was the second generation of Odum’s in the energy business. He began his oil industry career at Hydril Company during high school. While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Houston, he worked in the engineering department of a major pipeline company. In 1960, he re-joined Hydril where his work focused on premium OCTG connection technology in positions ranging from sales to management, including expanding Hydril’s business worldwide. In 1981 he became president of Superior Supply Company’s premium thread division and subsequently created his own company, Tellin Enterprises.

Circa 1984-5, Marvin and partner Paul Pigue founded XL Systems, Inc. A Shell Oil associate suggested that a premium flush joint thread connection for large diameter offshore conductor casing could significantly reduce time and costs of offshore operations. Along with a team of engineers, they developed the product and introduced it in the Gulf of Mexico. By 1997, the company was operating from three manufacturing plants in Texas, Singapore and the Netherlands to supply the technology worldwide. Marvin officially retired in 2002, but true to character, he never left the business and continued to be active in supplying line pipe and steel plate to the offshore industry for the rest of his life.

Marvin was an amazing husband and a loving father. He was actively involved in the lives of his family and friends. He was an active and dedicated member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, CanCare, Nomads and the Houston Golf Association. Marvin touched innumerable lives, often through his passion for fishing, golf and time on Galveston Island. Most of all, he was dedicated to his loving wife of 34 years, Gretchen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Eugene Sr. and Dorothy Odum; his brother, Clarence Roy Odum; and his parents-in-law, Clay Morris and Kathryn Ross.

In addition to Gretchen, Marvin is survived by his daughter, Debbie Odum Hutchinson and her husband, Joe; son, Marvin Eugene Odum III and his wife, Mariloli; son, Brian Jennings Odum and his wife, Suzanne; son, Marcus Worthington Odum and his wife, Cassi; his grandchildren, Lauren, Marvin IV, Taylor Daniele, Alex, Madison, Hayes, Taylor Nicole, and Morgan; his sister-in-law, Amy McGhie Ross; and his cousin, Alan Johnson and his wife, Phyllis.

The family extends a special thanks to Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Arthur Springer, Dr. John Seger, Dena Houchin, Jeff Granstrom, Meaghan Williams and all the nurses and staff at Texas Heart Institute at St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Marvin during a reception from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Thursday, the 22nd of March, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 23rd of March, in the Sanctuary of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, where the Rev. Dr. David Peterson, Senior Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, the family will greet friends in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Marvin Odum, Jr. may be directed to CanCare, 9575 Katy Fwy., Ste. 428, Houston, TX, 77024; Houston Golf Association, 5810 Wilson Rd., Ste. 112, Humble, TX, 77396; Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX, 77024; or to Ronald McDonald House Houston, 1907 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030.

“A father’s legacy is not riches, possessions or worldly goods of any kind; it is the way he lived, the lives he touched, the promises he kept. It is the kind of man he was.” - Author unknown