William Spurlock

William Thomas (Tom) Spurlock passed away on March 28, 2016, at the age of 87. Tom was born in Houston, Texas to Thomas Wood Spurlock and Gladys Dunk Spurlock on August 31, 1928. He was raised in West University Place, was active in Boy Scout Troop 211, and earned the honor of Eagle Scout in 1945. After graduating from Lamar High School in 1945, he attended Texas A&M and The University of Houston where he received a BS Degree in Geology in 1949. He was a First Lieutenant in the US Army Corp of Engineers, on active duty for 2 ½ years during The Korean War. The Spurlocks were members of Westminster United Methodist Church for 36 years while living in Houston. He and his wife Janna were married in 1950, have one son, Stephen Thomas Spurlock and one grandson, Stephen William Spurlock.\r\n \r\nTom began his career at Tenneco Oil Company in 1949 as a Junior Geologist and worked in various phases of the oil business. They included Texas Gulf Coast Exploration, Production and Exploration Research, North Sea Exploration and International Exploration. For several years in the 1970's he made geological studies and assessments of The Soviet Union's oil and gas potential and became fluent with the Russian Language. With a career spanning 40 years of worldwide petroleum exploration, he retired in 1986 as Exploration Manager, International Division, after directing Tenneco's international exploration program for six years.\r\n \r\nTom and Janna were owners of a ranch in Eastern Kerr County, Texas for 28 years and were in the Registered Angus cattle business. He is a Past Director of The Texas Angus Association. The Spurlocks have been members of Riverhill Country Club since 1982. They moved to Kerrville from Houston in 1992. Tom was one of the original incorporators of The Association of Property Owners of Riverhill in 1997 and served as the President until February of 1998. For five years, he served as the geological advisor to the Water Committee at Riverhill Country Club.\r\n \r\nHe was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a Certified Petroleum Geologist, and past President of The Hill Country Geoscientists Association. He and Janna have been members of the First United Methodist Church Kerrville since 1992. There, he served as Chairman of The Video and TV Ministry for 16 years, which included filming the Symphony of the Hills for 7 years and The Hill Country Youth Orchestra. He also served on the Board of the Symphony of the Hills for 4 years. In 2009, he and wife Janna received the Life's Treasures Award for their service to the community. He is a Past President of The Methodist Men's Association. For over 20 years, he was a volunteer for The AARP Tax Council for The Elderly in Kerrville, Texas. His hobbies were ranching, computers, golf, playing the saxophone, and making videos. Tom stated that his greatest accomplishment in life was talking Janna into being his lifelong companion and sweetheart.\r\n \r\nJust as words can't fully capture him, so they fail to describe the void left by his death.\r\n \r\nTom is survived by his wife Janna Renee Spurlock, son Stephen Thomas Spurlock, daughter-in-law Debbie Sue Spurlock, grandson Stephen William Spurlock, and sister-in-law Mary Lou Ramey.\r\n \r\nHis memorial service will be 11 AM, Friday, April 1, 2016 at First United Methodist Church. \r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the TV ministry at First United Methodist Church or Peterson Hospice. \r\n