Michael Allan McBee
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Michael Allan McBee was born on April 29, 1932, to Mary Louise Delaney and William Dimmitt McBee in Dallas. He passed away March 13 after a lengthy illness, surrounded by his loving family and clergy. Mike graduated high school at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M., then attended Notre Dame for one year before returning to the institute. He was a 1953 Senior College Graduate of the New Mexico Military Institute where he was an outstanding scholar, athlete and cadet, achieving the rank of Cadet Major.
He was first class president, salutatorian, the winner of the Samuel M. Goodwin Saber Award and, according to the 1953 Bronco Yearbook, his fellow cadets will “all remember him as outstanding in everything he undertook.” He played football, was a standout swimmer, diver and tumbler and was on both the boxing and golf teams.
Upon graduation from NMMI, McBee was commissioned an officer in the United States Army. lst Lieutenant McBee served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and a tank commander with the 2nd Armored Division. While at Ft. Bragg, N.C., with the 505th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 714th Tank Battalion, his unit, “B” Company, was the Division Honor Company for three months in a row — a record unequaled up to that time. Upon leaving Bragg, he was stationed in Germany with the 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion.
After separating from the service, he joined the family drilling company, the M. J. Delaney Co. and began his career in the oil field drilling wells on the Oakwood and Butler salt domes in East Texas. His industry achievements were acknowledged by his induction into the All-American Wildcatters, an organization that recognizes those who search for petroleum “beyond that of the average oil and gas finder,” at the organization’s annual meeting at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., in February 1971. He was a founding director of the First National Bank of Park Cities, acquired by BOK Financial Corporation in 1997, predecessor institution to Bank of Texas, N.A.
On Nov. 1, 1958, Mike married the former Evaline “Tina” Griffiths Weichsel at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He was a member and past president of Brook Hollow Golf Club, The Dallas Petroleum Club, The Dallas Wildcat Committee, as well as a former member of the Coon Creek Club and a member of the Rainbo Club, both in Henderson County, Texas. He was also a member of The Idlewild Club and Terpsichorean Club.
Mike will always be remembered for his kindness, consideration, generous spirit and ready smile.
Mike is survived by his wife, Tina McBee; sister, Ann McBee Buell; sons, Allan Weichsel McBee and his wife, Lynn; Michael Allan McBee Jr. and his wife, Carolyn; and Robert Weichsel McBee; granddaughter, Delaney Compton McBee; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Thank you to our many friends who have given us so much love and support. The McBee family would also like to thank Ray Jordan for his care and concern.
There will be a private Rosary for the family Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Mr. McBee will lie in state on Thursday, March 15, from noon until 8 p.m. at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Fri., March 16, 2012, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3826 Gilbert at Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas, Monsignor Don Fisher officiating. The pallbearers are Chuck Best, Bill Gribble, Chuck Howley, Tom Kindred, Pat Patrick, Gary Tate, Jere Thompson and John Waggoner. Honorary pallbearers are Rusty Bentley, Ed Cox, Jim Greene, John Lancaster, Wayne Laverty, George Lee, Leo Mihas, Wilson Schoellkopf, Jim Shelton, Wade Smith, Webb Sowden, Mack Strother, Bob Terry, and Bob Weichsel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to UT Southwestern Medical Foundation or the charity of your choice.
