Arlen Edgar, BSPE ’57
Arlen Edgar, a native of Stephenville, Texas, earned his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1957 after receiving an associate degree in engineering from Tarleton State University.
Edgar began his career with Pan American Petroleum in Odessa, then moved to Midland to serve as junior and intermediate engineer. After three years in Midland, Pan American asked Arlen to move to Fort Worth. Leibrock, Landreth, Campbell and Callaway (LLC&C) consulting engineering firm offered him a job as well. He accepted the job and remained there six years, becoming manager of the consulting division. At the same time, he served as secretary and a director of Canada-based Kanata Exploration and southern Louisiana-based Offshore Exploration Company.
In 1967, Edgar joined Robert M. Leibrock’s new company, Tipperary Land and Exploration, which was involved in farming, cattle, shrimp fishing, hard minerals – but no oil. He spent time exploring Australia, discovering a major bauxite deposit there. He later served as president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
After four years with Tipperary, Edgar joined Western States Producing Company as general manager of the San Antonio-based company’s Midland office. After spending two years there, he decided to branch off as an independent investor and consultant. He now spends his time investing in drilling deals, while also staying involved with professional organizations and community and church activities in Midland.
Edgar has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Tarleton State University as well as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate of UT Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering. He has received many awards from organizations such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers, and the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, as well as various other recognitions for his many achievements. Among these were the Top Hand Award from the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the Hearst Energy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
Edgar currently resides in Midland, where he operates as an independent investor under his name.
