Jack S. Blanton

Who was Jack S. Blanton?

Jack Sawtelle Blanton was an American oil industry executive, civic leader and philanthropist.

He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the son of William N. Blanton and Louise G. Wynn. Blanton was raised in Houston, Texas, where his father was general manager of the chamber of commerce. After attending Lamar High School, Blanton earned a B.A. at the University of Texas at Austin in 1947 with a double major in government and history, and an L.L.B. at UT Law School in 1950.

That same year, Blanton went to work for Eddy C. Scurlock at Scurlock Oil Company in the Division Order Department. He rose through the company ranks to become its president in 1958, and eventually CEO and chairman in 1983, a year after the company was sold to Ashland Oil. He retired from his position in 1988 to become the president of Eddy Refining Company, his current job.

He has had three wives. Blanton was married to Laura Lee Scurlock, daughter of Eddy C. Scurlock; the Laura Lee Blanton Building at Southern Methodist University is named for her. On October 14, 2000, he and Lucinda B. Bailey were married. He and Virginia "Ginger" Nelson were married on November 30, 2002. He and Laura Lee Scurlock Blanton had three children, Elizabeth Louise Blanton; Jack Sawtelle Blanton, Jr.; and Eddy Scurlock Blanton.