Texas Tech University

Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 
Distinguished Engineer Photo: James W. Lacy
James W. Lacy

James W. Lacy

Distinguished Engineer

1985

Degree

Petroleum Engineering – 1949

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 1985

James W. Lacy was born in Bowie, Texas and has devoted his life to the oil and gas industry, to public service, and to his family. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1949 after serving and being decorated in World War II as a bombardier.

Mr. Lacy went on to establish himself as an engineer and manager with Kewanee Oil Company in Tulsa and served that company for 18 years. In 1967, he became executive vice president and director of Adobe Oil and Gas in Midland, and in 1974, he became president of an independent exploration company – Hytech Energy Corp., also in Midland. Most recently, he has founded his own company, Lacy & Byrd, Inc., and is active in oil and gas exploration and production. Because of Lacy’s demonstrated leadership in his field, Governor Clements appointed him to the Interstate Oil Compact Commission from 1979–1982.

James Lacy’s professional accomplishments compete for prominence with his public and charitable activities. Mr. Lacy was a candidate for the Railroad Commission in 1978. He travels frequently to Eastern Europe and South America as a lay missionary. Lacy and his wife, Juandelle, have established the Wainscott–Lacy Memorial Fund at the First Baptist Church, Midland, to provide scholarships and support missionary work throughout the world. His service to education includes positions as President of the Board of Trustees of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, past Chairman and Director of High Sky Girls’ Ranch in Midland, and member of the TTU President’s Council, the Red Raider Club, and the TTU Foundation.

We are fortunate to have Mr. James W. Lacy as a College of Engineering alumnus, and we proudly designate him a DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

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