Fred Kerwin Fox

Fred Kerwin Fox of Austin, Texas, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2008. A man of great intellect, integrity and strong character, he was born in Houston, Texas April 3, 1926 to Fred Fox Jr. and Marie Potier Fox. He was orphaned at the age of thirteen, lost his mother in 1935 and father in 1939. Leaving Houston schools after his fathers' death, he attended Allen Military Academy at Bryan, Texas for five years in academic and ROTC. Lacking only one semester to graduate he joined the US Marines at the age of seventeen. He served in the South Pacific in the 1st Marine Division as a PFC in rank and served as a flame thrower in combat on the island of Peleliu, now known as The Tragic Triumph. After hand to hand combat and wounded by a Japanese bayonet and shrapnel wounds, he was removed from combat for medical treatment and hospital stay for over two years, was discharged from the service and returned to Texas. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart. He was interviewed by The History Channel ¬Oliver North, War Stories: Peleliu: The Forgotten Battle, and History Channel: The Bloody Hills of Peleliu. He returned many times to the island, and on one occasion he had a plaque mounted on White Beach in honor of the survivors and in memory of the fallen and Captain George Hunt commanding officer. Fred was a proud Veteran of the US Marine Corp. Prior to college he entered the petroleum industry by getting a job at Halliburton Co. as a rough hand, cleaning drill collars and other oil equipment that was dirty. Under the GI Bill for education he attended the University of Texas graduating with a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering in 1949, Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1951, entered the PHD program 1979. He was honored as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate 1990. He became an Independent oil operator and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive of Engineering Enterprises Inc. He invented, developed and marketed Spiral Drill Collars, Casing and Zip-Life Elevators. This invention was worldwide in countries of oil exploration except in Russia and China. It remains a valuable piece of oil field equipment. He served as General Partner of the New Ulm Gas, Ltd. (deep gas production in Texas, obtained 38 U.S. and Foreign Patents, Articles :World Oil, Offshore, Drilling and Oil and Gas Journal, SPE technical papers and lectured at petroleum industry schools, seminars, conferences in US and Foreign Countries. Fred was an advocate of strong Micronesia-U.S. relations with over 20 visits to Micronesia, an overseas Private Investment Corporation mission and was acquainted with Micronesian leaders, including President Bailey Olter FSM: Professor Dirk Ballendorf, University Guam, Polycarp Basilius, Palau and many others. This adventure was never completed to Freds' satisfaction. Palau and the other islands remain as Federated states and not a part of the U.S. Statehood. They continue to receive monies from the U.S. Federal Government. Fred also was Director of Civil Defense in Houston for a period of one year after being appointed by Mayor Fred Hoffheines. He was paid $1.00 for this service. Fred is survived by his wife, Lillian Hand Fox and predeceased by the mother of his children, Patricia Lynch Fox. Also surviving are three sons, Timothy Fox, Casey Fox and wife Nancy Fox, and Jesse Fox; grandchildren, Fred Garrett Fox and Heather Grace Fox; and cousin, Curtis Potier and wife Doreen, Lake Charles, LA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 23rd at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.