George Nichols Nelson

George was an only child, born in Kansas City, Missouri to Claude and Hazel Nelson.

His mother's upbringing in the farming community of Carrollton, Missouri with a strong work ethic was a big influence on George's character and no-nonsense attitude. As a boy when school was recessed for the summertime he would go to stay with his cousins Jack and Bobby Smith in Carrollton and participated in detasseling corn, picking tomatoes, the Saturday night movie shows at the theater and Sunday Ice Cream Socials. Indoor plumbing was unavailable at the Carrollton Farm in those early years and George remembered "I was always the last one to get a bath after Jack and Bobby."

After graduating from N.K.City High School George earned a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where he earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management. He was on the U. of Oklahoma Sooner's football team, coached by Bud Wilkinson, that became the undefeated Champions at the 1954 Orange Bowl game.

His goal after graduation was to go overseas and accumulate as much experience in as many positions as possible in the Oil Fields, which lead him to working in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

In 1977 he was offered the BP position of Prudhoe Bay Field Manager in Alaska for the startup of production from America's largest new oil field. George's strengths were his strong hands-on Operations background and technical expertise; his straight forwardness that were at times blunt and loud but he said it like it was. Work associates commented: "you always knew where you stood with George Nelson."

In July 1981 he became Vice President & General Manager of Sohio Alaska Petroleum Co. In 1982 he was appointed its first President. He was largely responsible for BP's high profile in many social areas throughout the state. The company contributed heavily to everything from Bean's Cafe to the performing arts during his time at the company's helm.

George was a respected key leader for the Oil Industry in Alaska and his reputation exhibited honesty and openness to reach his hand across the aisle and work with many different community leaders in Juneau and the Alaska Native Corporations. During his tenure in Alaska he earned a Doctor of Laws honorary degree (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) and an Executive Management Certificate from MIT Sloan Senior Executive Program in 1983.

In 1989 he took early retirement from BP and he and his wife decided to remain in Alaska during their retirement years.

He is survived by his loving wife Cynthia Nelson of over 40 years; son and daughter-in-law Chris and Juli Nelson (Texas); daughters Georgianne Boeding and Stephanie Nelson (Missouri); daughter Amy Nelson (Kansas) and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A special note of gratitude to the Ancora Home Health nurses Amy-Sequoia, Kristin, Cheyanne, and Mary that helped make his finals days at home comfortable.

A private graveside service will be held at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri where he will receive full military honors and masonic rites.