Benjamin Cole Craft, Jr. passed away on May 7, 2013. He was born April 21, 1932 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Bertha Phillips and Benjamin Cole Craft. He attended University High then Louisiana State University where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated from LSU with a degree in Petroleum Engineering.
From 1954 to 1955, he was a Junior Petroleum Engineer with Drew Cornell, Inc. and then enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and served as a Captain until 1959. Following his military service, he worked with Gene Hochendale, Inc. in Lafayette, Louisiana as a Partner and Independent Consultant until 1960 when he went to work for Chevron as a Drilling Engineer. In 1962, Benny began what would be a twenty-four year relationship with Quintana Petroleum Corporation where he held multiple executive positions. He was involved in a broad range of supervisory positions that required a high degree of technical expertise and sound management skills. From 1962 to 1966, he was employed as a Drilling Engineer, and from 1967 to 1972, he became a Senior Drilling Engineer. From 1973 to 1974, he was a Project Engineer and from 1974 to 1986, he served as Vice President, Drilling and Production and President of Quintana Overseas, Inc. From 1974 to 1980, Benny was a resident of the U.K. as President and Managing Director of Quintana Overseas, the affiliate responsible for oil and gas exploration in frontier areas of the world. Following his employment with Quintana, Benny worked with Enron for a few years as a Consultant concerning its endeavors in India.
Benny enjoyed spending time with family and friends and was an avid outdoorsman who loved all types of hunting and fishing. He also loved to travel and was able to see most of the world during his lifetime. He had a wonderful wit and lived his life with integrity, dignity and great
Benny is survived by his son, Daniel Paul Craft; his brother, Fielding Baron Craft and wife, Charlotte Parham Craft; nephew, Fielding Baron Craft, Jr. and wife, Lori Crotts Craft; niece, Claudia Craft Huthnance; niece, Sharon Craft Cote, husband, Kevin Wayne Cote and family; two grand-nieces, Anna Renee Huthnance and Sydney Cole Huthnance; and grand-nephew, Fielding Baron ("Trey") Craft, III. Benny was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha Phillips and Benjamin Cole Craft; and his son, Benjamin Cole Craft, III.
A celebration and memorial of Benny's life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery located at 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77079 and a reception will immediately follow at Lakeside Country Club located at 100 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, Texas, 77042.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Craft and Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering (please make the check out to "LSU Foundation"), 2107 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 or The Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas, 77002.
Source: The Houston Chronicle, Houston, Texas, Sunday, May 19, 2013 (photo published with obituary)
