Texas Tech University

Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 
Distinguished Engineer Photo: Bill M. Sanderson
Bill M. Sanderson

Bill M. Sanderson

Distinguished Engineer

1998

Degree

Chemical Engineering – 1960

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 1998

Bill M. Sanderson was born and raised on a farm in Gaines County. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1960.

After his graduation, he joined Shell Oil Company and worked for 21 years in various capacities in exploration and production, including a three–year period of time in Venezuela. In 1974, he joined Shell U.K. in London, working there for five years in the early development of the oil and gas production facilities in the North Sea. In 1978, he returned to Shell Oil Company in New Orleans.

In 1931, he joined Western Gas Resources as the Vice President. He was later promoted to Senior Vice President and in 1986 was named as the President and Chief Operating Officer. As President he led the company in a public offering and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Western Gas gathers and processes natural gas in most of the oil and gas producing areas in the U.S. and markets natural gas and natural gas liquids throughout the country. The company is now one of the largest independents in the industry. During the 16 years he spent at Western Gas Resources, the company experienced substantial growth. He was in the oil and gas industry for 35 years before retiring in 1996. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Western Gas Resources.

While at Tech Mr. Sanderson was a member of the Tau Beta Pi and Kappa Mu Epsilon honorary societies. He is affiliated with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. In Denver, he was a member of the First Tuesday Organization and the Natural Gas Processors Association. The Sandersons maintain two homes, one in Boulder, Colorado and the other in Sonoma, California. He says that after retiring, he has gone back to farming at his Sonoma, California home where he has planted a small vineyard.

He and his wife, Mabeth, have three children, Doak, Sarah, and Scott.

It is indeed a pleasure for Texas Tech University to name Bill M. Sanderson as DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

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