[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1052-E1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO COLLIS P. CHANDLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 1999

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Collis 
P. Chandler, Jr., a friend of mine and a true friend of the petroleum 
industry, who passed away May 5, 1999, at the age of 72.
  Mr. Chandler was a man of good character who loved life, his family 
and the industry upon which he had such a great impact. In a

[[Page E1053]]

letter to her baby daughter describing grandfather Chandler, daughter-
in-law, Anne, wrote eloquently telling her that many words described 
him, ``loving, generous, thoughtful, caring, intelligent, gifted, 
unique, witty, genuine. He was a man who made a difference. He was a 
man that changed the world and that, in the end, is all that one can 
ask from life.'' I wholeheartedly support Anne's representation of Mr. 
Chandler.
  He was born on October 5, 1926 to Louise and Collis Chandler in 
Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 
1948 he graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science 
degree in Mechanical Engineering.
  Mr. Chandler joined Sohio Petroleum Company in 1948 working in 
Louisiana and Kansas. In 1954 he founded the first of The Chandler 
Companies--Chandler-Simpson, Inc.--in Denver, Colorado. He was Chairman 
of The Chandler Company and its subsidiaries: Chandler & Associates, 
LLC and The Chandler Drilling Corporation at the time of his death. His 
companies have drilled more than 1,200 test wells, resulting in oil or 
gas discoveries or significant field extensions that number more than 
100.
  Mr. Chandler was a past chairman of the National Petroleum Council 
and Natural Gas Supply Association. In addition, he also served as 
president of the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Association.
  Over the past 30 years, he held an impressive record of leadership in 
the American Petroleum Institute. He served on the Board of Directors 
since 1965 and the Executive Committee since 1968. Mr. Chandler was a 
member of the Management Committee and has served on the Public Policy 
committee, and its forerunner, since 1978. In 1994, he received the 
American Petroleum Institute's highest award, The Gold Medal for 
Distinguished Achievement.
  His numerous honors and awards are a testament to his lifetime of 
service to the oil and gas industry. He received the Secretary of 
Energy's ``Distinguished Service'' Medal; the Texas Mid-Continent Oil & 
Gas Association's ``Independent of the Year'' Award; the Rocky Mountain 
Oil & Gas Association's ``Life Membership'' Award; and, the American 
Association of Petroleum Landmen's ``Distinguished Service'' Award.
  His business activities outside of the petroleum industry have 
included membership on the Board of Directors of the Public Service 
Company of Colorado and the Colorado National Bank.
  Mr. Chandler gave generously of his time and talents to his alma 
mater, Purdue University, serving as a past president of the Purdue 
Alumni Association and as a member of the Board of Directors. He also 
served on the Board of Governors of the Purdue Foundation. He was 
currently serving on the Board of Directors of ``Up With People.''
  He was a current member of Castle Pines Golf Club, Denver Country 
Club, Burning Tree Club, Bethesda, Maryland, and the Thunderbird 
Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.
  He is survived by his wife, Patti, a son, Collis Chandler III of 
Denver, a daughter Mary Louise Henry of Lansing, Michigan; four step-
daughters, Mary DeSimone of Denver, Gerri Ann Bragdon of Arvada, 
Kathlyn Maureen Woodard of Dallas, Texas and Paula Ann Novak of 
Pensacola, Florida; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He 
was preceded in death by two sons; Thomas Grant Chandler and Robert 
Chandler.
  Mr. Speaker, it is men like Collis Chandler who have made this 
country great. Mr. Chandler helped shape America by being a good solid 
American citizen who worked hard to implement the right values. He 
contributed to society because he saw needs and filled them. Thank you, 
Mr. Chandler.

                          ____________________