THOMAS C. PONDER, SR., born December 6,
1921 in his grandmother's home in Jackson County, Arkansas near Tuckerman to
Ruth Lee Hopper Ponder and Harry Lee Ponder, died May 14, 2005 in Houston at
the age of 83. He attended public schools in Little Rock and Memphis and
graduated in 1939 from Little Rock Senior High. He then attended the
University of Arkansas from 1939-1942 and 1946-1948 graduating with a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1948. After successful years
in Project Engineering with Pittsburg Plate Glass, Foster Wheeler Corp. and
C. E. Lummus he joined Gulf Publishing Co. in 1955 as Petrochemicals Editor
of Hydrocarbon Processing. Tom soon became known internationally as "Mr.
Petrochemicals" and traveled to several European, South American, and
Asian countries including Saudi Arabia. Before the wall came down he
conducted a tour for the government in Romania, Hungary, and East Berlin. He
retired in 1986 after 31 years. He joined AACE International (Cost
Engineering) in 1957 as a Charter Member and chaired the first session that
year at the first annual meeting in Durham, New Hampshire. He served as
National Secretary and National President. He received the Award of Merit in
1971, Fellow 1977, Founders Award 1978, Life Membership 1982, and for many
years was on the Long Range Planning Committee and Certification Committee.
In his retirement he designed and produced Early American and Shaker Style
furniture. He was a member of Spring Woods Baptist Church and attended
services every week. He served in the Army Air-Corps during World War II as a
photographer in the Training Command. He was preceded in death by his son,
Harry Lee Ponder and a daughter-in-law, Cynthia. Tom is survived by his wife
of 62 years, Catherine Cahill Ponder; sons, Tom, Jr. and wife Audra, and
Stephen and wife Becky; grandchildren, Jerry M. Ponder, Jennifer M. Ponder,
Shelby Ponder Songy, and Stephenie Irene Ponder; great-grandchildren, Joshua,
Savannah, Steve-O, Jack and Evelyn; his sister, Joyce Pattison Dunn; niece,
Gloria Pattison Magee; nephews, Harry Ponder Pattison, Dwight Pattison, Jr.
as well as other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be from 6
to 8 PM Tuesday, Woodlawn Funeral Home. Funeral Services 11 AM Wednesday, May
18, 2005 in the Chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home with Rev. C. O. Herchenhahn
officiating. Interment to follow in Woodlawn Garden of Memories.
THOMAS C. PONDER, SR., born December 6,
1921 in his grandmother's home in Jackson County, Arkansas near Tuckerman to
Ruth Lee Hopper Ponder and Harry Lee Ponder, died May 14, 2005 in Houston at
the age of 83. He attended public schools in Little Rock and Memphis and
graduated in 1939 from Little Rock Senior High. He then attended the
University of Arkansas from 1939-1942 and 1946-1948 graduating with a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1948. After successful years
in Project Engineering with Pittsburg Plate Glass, Foster Wheeler Corp. and
C. E. Lummus he joined Gulf Publishing Co. in 1955 as Petrochemicals Editor
of Hydrocarbon Processing. Tom soon became known internationally as "Mr.
Petrochemicals" and traveled to several European, South American, and
Asian countries including Saudi Arabia. Before the wall came down he
conducted a tour for the government in Romania, Hungary, and East Berlin. He
retired in 1986 after 31 years. He joined AACE International (Cost
Engineering) in 1957 as a Charter Member and chaired the first session that
year at the first annual meeting in Durham, New Hampshire. He served as
National Secretary and National President. He received the Award of Merit in
1971, Fellow 1977, Founders Award 1978, Life Membership 1982, and for many
years was on the Long Range Planning Committee and Certification Committee.
In his retirement he designed and produced Early American and Shaker Style
furniture. He was a member of Spring Woods Baptist Church and attended
services every week. He served in the Army Air-Corps during World War II as a
photographer in the Training Command. He was preceded in death by his son,
Harry Lee Ponder and a daughter-in-law, Cynthia. Tom is survived by his wife
of 62 years, Catherine Cahill Ponder; sons, Tom, Jr. and wife Audra, and
Stephen and wife Becky; grandchildren, Jerry M. Ponder, Jennifer M. Ponder,
Shelby Ponder Songy, and Stephenie Irene Ponder; great-grandchildren, Joshua,
Savannah, Steve-O, Jack and Evelyn; his sister, Joyce Pattison Dunn; niece,
Gloria Pattison Magee; nephews, Harry Ponder Pattison, Dwight Pattison, Jr.
as well as other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be from 6
to 8 PM Tuesday, Woodlawn Funeral Home. Funeral Services 11 AM Wednesday, May
18, 2005 in the Chapel of Woodlawn Funeral Home with Rev. C. O. Herchenhahn
officiating. Interment to follow in Woodlawn Garden of Memories.