CLIFFORD WALKER RACKLEY
1923-2018
Clifford Walker Rackley (Cliff ) passed away peacefully in Houston, Texas on January 28, 2018 at the age of 94. A resident of Houston since 1960, he was born September 19, 1923 in Tift County, Georgia to Thomas Benjamin Rackley and Datie Ross Rackley. He graduated from Tifton High School then worked in Georgia, Florida and Texas before entering the military. He commanded a B-17 aircraft in the 483rd Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Corps during WWII and was awarded the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Julia Susan (Sue) Old on February 6, 1945 and enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed a Bachelor’s of Chemical Engineering.
His career in the petroleum industry began with the Mobil Oil Company in Beaumont, Texas (1949-56). In 1956 he became chief engineer for the Chalmette Refinery (New Orleans) with Tennessee Gas Transmission Company (Tenneco). He was transferred to Houston with Tenneco in 1960 as a refining and marketing manager and remained with Tenneco until his retirement, after holding positions as President of Tenneco Oil (1974-78), Chairman of Tenneco Oil (1978-82) and then Senior Vice-President and Group Executive with Tenneco, Inc. (1982-86). Following retirement from Tenneco he served as consultant on the Colombian S A crude oil pipeline venture (1987-89) and as company director for three other entities: Home Oil Co. Ltd, Lakehead Pipeline Co. and Interhome Energy, Inc. (1990-94). From 1991-95 he served as Chairman and CEO of Teppco Partners LP, a petroleum products pipeline company.
From 1975-78 Cliff served on the American Petroleum Institute Board of Directors. He served on the Georgia Institute of Technology National Advisory Board from 198288. Lifelong hobbies included hunting, fishing and boating. Since 1995 Cliff enjoyed golf and bridge at Lakeside Country Club and authored several privately published books including personal memoirs, genealogy studies, a tribute to his sister, and a tribute to his parents. He was one of seven co-authors who wrote the 2013 book “Built From Scratch – The Energy Companies of Tenneco” which detailed the history of those companies (and won the 2014 Axiom Bronze Award, corporate history category). Cliff valued the benefits of higher education and encouraged the educational and business pursuits of family members in many ways, oftentimes mentoring others in business and management principles. He enjoyed trying to find solutions to complex business or technical problems, often utilizing a quantitative approach.
Cliff was predeceased by his parents, his wife and his sister Dorothy Davis. He is survived by his three daughters Jennifer Sullivan (husband Mike), Clara Eller (husband Butch) and Sherrie Webb (husband Ken). He is survived by five grandchildren Shannon Blake (husband John), Michael Sullivan (wife Dawne), Stacy Eller (husband Ross Peery), Sergeant First Class Glenn Eller of the US Army and Amy Webb. He is survived by four great-grandchildren: Brynne & Cole Sullivan, Alexandra & Connor Blake and by numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home at 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77079 (phone 281-497-2210). For those who wish to make a charitable donation in lieu of flowers, please consider the Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring Street NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308.