Harry Holmes Cullen

Harry Holmes Cullen, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away with his family by his side on the 16th of November 2019, in Houston, Texas. Harry was born in Houston on the 7th of September 1935, the youngest child of Roy Gustav Cullen and Katherine Thompson Cullen Burton. Not long after he was born his father passed away. He and his siblings Cornelia Cullen Long and Roy Henry Cullen were raised by their mother with loving support from grandparents, Lillie Cranz and Hugh Roy Cullen, and aunts and uncles that lived nearby. He attended The Kinkaid School in Houston, Allen Academy in Bryan, Texas, and graduated from Lamar High School in Houston. Following high school, he attended the University of Houston, where he met the love of his life Rosanette Saragusa Cullen. They were married 62 years.

Harry learned the oil business from his grandfather, and along with Corbin Robertson, Sr. and other family members, they discovered and developed oil fields operated by Quintana Petroleum Company. In April 1977, he formed HHC Exploration, Inc., still in operation today. He was well respected in the industry, earning membership in the All-American Wildcatters for which he served as Chairman for two years. He developed many life-long friendships through his associates in oil and gas.

Harry served on the Board of Directors for Quintana Petroleum Corporation, Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., Pennzoil Company, and Legacy Holding Company. He served as Trustee for Cullen Trust for Health Care. He was also active in the community as a huge supporter of the University of Houston, a member of the Greater Houston Partnership, and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Harry was a member of the River Oaks Country Club, The Petroleum Club, Coronado Club, Knights of Momus, and Allegro. He supported the Heart Institute as a member of The Cooley Circle, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Ballet Foundation, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The George and Barbara Bush Foundation, Houston Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Foundation, and The Salvation Army among other philanthropic organizations.

Harry had a life-long love of flying and earned his pilot’s license at an early age. He spent many years flying his plane throughout the United States and Mexico. He enjoyed hunting and fishing at his ranch, The Buena Vista in south Texas. He had a passion for golf and played top courses all over the world. Harry and his wife, Rosanette, also enjoyed traveling abroad with many friends and family. His best times were spent with Rosanette, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren at the ranch and his river house in New Braunfels. He was at the center of every family celebration and milestone and will be remembered as a warm, generous, and loving man. He will be missed by all.

Harry was preceded in death by his father, Roy Gustav Cullen and mother Katherine Cullen Burton of Houston, sister Katherine Otilla Cullen, and brother Roy Henry Cullen. Harry is survived by his wife, Rosanette Saragusa Cullen, son Harry Holmes Cullen Jr. and wife Kathleen Earthman Cullen, and their children Harry Holmes Cullen III and his wife Lillian Lewis Cullen, Hugh Roy Cullen II, and Kathleen Rosanette Cullen; daughter Katherine Cullen McCord and husband Joseph Dietrich McCord, and their children Jennifer McCord Anderson and her husband Landon Poling Anderson, Cullen Dietrich McCord, and Sarah Katherine McCord; great grandchildren Roy Walton Anderson and Harry Holmes Cullen IV; sister Cornelia Cullen Long and her husband Meredith; sister-in law Mary Angela Broughton; sister-in-law Mary Garcia Cullen; nieces and nephews Roy Walter Cullen, Melinda Cullen, Robert Cullen, Meredith Cullen and his wife Danielle, Cornelia O'Leary Zilkha and her husband Michael, Alisa Erin O'Leary; John Cavanaugh O'Leary, Jr. and his wife Blanca ,Martha Long Wade and her husband Sean, Bo Long and his wife Dorothy, Jenny Long Murphy and her husband Ed, Gretchen Long Jameson and her husband Peter, Joseph Anthony Navarro and his wife Stacia, Rocky Joseph Navarro, Suzanne Navarro Hardman and her husband Clayton. Other family members include the Robertsons, Arnolds, Marshalls, Barnharts, Scotts, Thompsons, and their families.

The family is extremely grateful for the care Harry received from Dr. James T. Willerson, his nurse Mae Thomas, and his caregivers; Latrice Clay, Darrell Dever, Kimberly Heights, Joyce Oliphant, Peter Taylor, and Del Young.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock this afternoon until seven o'clock this evening, Tuesday, the 19th of November 2019, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 20th of November 2019, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Leon Strieder, S.L.D., is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Mr. Harry Holmes Cullen may be directed to: Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030; and the University of Houston, UH College of Engineering, Gift Processing and Records, P. O. Box 867, Houston, Texas 77001, or the charity of your choice.