ARTHUR “ARTIE” MCFERRIN, JR.
1943-2017
Entrepreneur Arthur “Artie” McFerrin, Jr. was born in Beaumont, Texas, on June 26, 1943, and passed away on August 8, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1965 and master’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1969, both from Texas A&M. Artie’s record of service dates back to the ’60s, when as a cadet, he was a member of Company E-1 Rebs, the Student Conference on National Affairs, the Society of Military Engineers and the Great Issues Committee.
In 1975 he founded KMCO, a chemical processing and manufacturing company, and in 1990 established KMTEX, a high-volume distillation company. He added South Coast Terminals in 1996 and CSL in 2006, and has been a partner in several other chemical processing plants.
An Aggie to the core, Artie has served Texas A&M as chairman of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Board and on the President’s Corps of Cadets Board of Visitors. He has also served on the 12th Man Foundation Board of Trustees, serving as Chairman, Texas A&M Research Foundation, the Engineering School Advisory Council and the Chancellor’s Century Council, to name a few. In 2005, Artie established an endowment to support Texas A&M’s Department of Chemical Engineering, which now bears his name. He was a lead gift donor for the McFerrin Athletic Center (Texas A&M football’s indoor practice facility), the Cox-McFerrin Center for Aggie Basketball, the R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center, the Kyle Field Redevelopment Campaign, the construction of Blue Bell Park, Becky Gates Children’s Center, the Marilyn Kent Byrne Student Success Center in the College of Education and Human Development, as well as the Byrne Chair and the Watts Cross Country Course. Recently he endowed the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M, which will have its grand opening for all students, faculty and alumni this fall.
Additionally, Artie has been part of the Distinguished Visiting Executive Series at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1998, The Association of Former Students Distinguished Alumnus in 2008, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Outstanding Alumni Honor Award in 2013 and the Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor Award in 2015.
Artie loved the study of universal success principles and spent his life aligning his thoughts and actions as such. As God favors the integrity and principles for which he lived his life, Artie was infinitely blessed, as were those whose lives he touched along the way. His dedication to his family, friends and employees was evident every day of his life. He sincerely valued supporting and inspiring others.
Striving for excellence and maintaining a positive mental attitude was his life’s work. While reading books and listening to audiotapes to and from work daily helped fine-tune his thinking, Artie’s colleagues and employees also fostered the culture of success in all areas of his life and business. He believed so strongly that everyone he encountered had the potential to do great things, and he would regularly encourage them to set higher goals. He was just as proud of others’ success as he was his own.
Many employees and colleagues speak and write about what a kind man Artie was and how he believed in his team, no matter who was on it. His friendly smile and humble, unassuming way was no act. Artie was a genuinely humble man, who had a vision for the future and believed in the greatness that young people can achieve. We are all so proud of the impact he has made here on earth and know that he planted many seeds that will continue to impact his community and industry for generations.
Artie passed away peacefully in the company of friends and family. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Dorothy Jersild McFerrin; their son, Jeffrey McFerrin, his wife Kasey and children Karsen and Sydney; their daughter, Jennifer McFerrinBohner, her husband David and children Ally and Lexi; his sister Mary McFerrin Knockaert and her husband Earl; his brother-in-law Joe Jersild and his wife Irina; beloved nieces and nephews; and his “adopted” family members Robin Martin and Mike Riley.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Artie’s spirit by getting involved and using your talents to make the world a better place. Please consider becoming a lifelong blood donor, as these selfless gifts gave Artie many additional years of life.