Thomas H. Russell

“Blessed” is how Thomas “Tom” Russell (BS ’57) describes the past 80 years. From modest beginnings in a large Irish-Catholic family to starting up his own incredibly successful businesses, he credits his good fortune to faith, family and perseverance.

Russell has fond memories of his days at The University of Tulsa. He came to TU on the advice of his brother-in-law Calvin McKee (BS ’48). “Cal was my mentor. He recommended I attend TU, study chemical engineering and apply for a scholarship. I did all those things, and it proved to be good advice,” said Russell. The two remain best friends to this day.

For McKee, TU served as the bookends for his service as a paratrooper in World War II. Wanting to emulate his sister’s brave husband, Russell took classes for two years before joining the military and then returned to campus to finish his degree (petroleum engineering with an emphasis in refining) on the G.I. Bill after his discharge. “I’m still following in Cal’s footsteps,” he laughs.

Russell wed while he was in the service and moved his small family into TU’s “Vet Village” for married veterans, which was located where Keplinger Hall currently sits. Many engineering students had lab courses in the basement of Phillips Hall, and Russell remembers his favorite professor, Paul Buthod (BS ’39, MS ’43). “When he was writing equations on the board, he was seeing the gas plant in his head, and that’s what made him such an effective teacher,” he said. “Buthod gave us all the basic tools we needed to get our first job.”

For Russell, that job was with Magnolia Petroleum. In 1972, he struck out on his own and founded T.H. Russell Company, which manufactured natural gas equipment. Over two decades later, he sold that business to Houston-based Hanover Company. Russell waited patiently, biding his time as an instructor at TU until the noncompete agreement ended.

In 2002, he and his sons founded Thomas Russell Company, which produces skid-mounted equipment for gas-processing plants. “Every chemical engineer we have here is a TU graduate,” he said, proudly. After nearly a year of intense talks, Russell sold a 70 percent stake in that company to Honeywell International Incorporated in 2012. “This alliance has significantly expanded our capabilities,” Russell said.

That doesn’t mean he’s retired. Most days, Russell still shows up at his Tulsa office or at the Catoosa plant to see that business is running smoothly. In 1981, Shannon Melton (BS ’57) asked Russell to serve on the TU Department of Chemical Engineering Advisory Board – a post he still holds today.

“There is great value in giving back,” he said. “When I see how God has blessed me, it makes me want to give back to those who made it all possible.” In addition to giving generously of his time and expertise, Russell and his wife, Pam, have established endowments and scholarships to offer others the same opportunities he had.

Not one to sit still for long, Russell says he enjoys ranching, hiking, scuba diving, skiing and sailing. Having also been blessed with six children, two stepchildren and 13 grandchildren, he and Pam spend time traveling stateside and abroad with their large family.

The entire clan will be welcomed at TU when the patriarch accepts the Distinguished Alumnus Award. “It’s such a tremendous honor,” Russell said. “I never envisioned myself reaching that status.”