Charles Lee "Charlie" Blackburn

Charles Lee "Charlie" Blackburn passed away peacefully at home in Sarasota, Florida on June 23, 2016 surrounded by family and friends, all of whom he loved very much. Born in Cushing, Oklahoma on January 9, 1928, Charlie grew up moving around the oil and gas fields of Oklahoma. After graduating from Pauls Valley High School, Charlie spent two years in the Army before attending the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, with Distinction. He was always proud that he took 44 hours of college level physics with only the use of a slide rule. Later in life, Charlie was named a Distinguished Graduate of the College of Engineering at Oklahoma and he established the Charles L. Blackburn Chair in Engineering Physics. Charlie spent 34 years with Shell Oil Company. During his last 10 years at Shell, he held the position of Executive Vice President in charge of Shell's exploration and production activities. After retiring from Shell, in 1987 Charlie became the Chairman and CEO of Maxus Energy Corporation until the company was sold in 1995. In 2003 Charlie was named Chairman of Range Resources Corporation, a position he held for several years before retiring from the Board in 2013. During his illustrious career Charlie also held Board positions at Anderson, Clayton and Company, Penrod Drilling Company, Lone Star Steel Company and The King Ranch. He was very active in the All American Wildcatters Association and was a founding member of the National Ocean Industries Association. Charlie loved life and lived it to the fullest. His passions were hunting, fishing, traveling, wine collecting and especially following University of Oklahoma football. He could spend hours telling you which past teams were the best, the projected two deep for the upcoming season or the status of the potential recruits. Charlie continued to purchase wine up until his final days, reflecting a continued optimism that he would be able to enjoy wines that were not to be consumed for years. Before moving to Sarasota in 2010, Charlie spent many summers at Old Baldy Club in Saratoga, Wyoming. While affording him the opportunity to escape the Texas heat and enjoy his passion for fly fishing, Charlie loved gathering with family and taking long morning walks with his beloved red Lab Buster. Charlie is survived and will be sorely missed by his wife Nancy Blackburn, his son Kern Andrew Blackburn and his wife Mary Sue, his son Alan Jeffrey Blackburn and his wife Pamela, his son Charles Lee Blackburn II, his son Derek Ray Blackburn, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Lillian Beall Blackburn, his younger brothers James Sexton Blackburn and Paul Robert Blackburn and many beloved friends. Services for Charlie will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Tributes

Charles Lee "Charlie" Blackburn

January 9, 1928 - June 23, 2016