Frank Sterling
Frank Prior Sterling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Double Bayou, Chambers County, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 1938 (aged 68) |
| Occupation | Petroleum industry executive |
| Years active | 1911–1938 |
| Known for | Co-founder and Vice President of Humble Oil & Refining Company |
Frank Prior Sterling (October 26, 1869 – July 16, 1938) was a prominent figure in the American petroleum sector, operating primarily out of Houston, Texas.
Raised alongside his siblings in Double Bayou, located in Chambers County in southern Texas, Sterling exhibited a business-minded approach early on by constructing a sailboat to ferry vegetables for sale to Galveston.
Career
In 1911, Frank Sterling was among the nine original founders of the Humble Oil & Refining Company headquartered in Houston. Their first drilling operations took place near Humble, Texas. Specializing in post-production processes, Sterling advanced to the position of Vice President at Humble Oil by 1921.
Humble Oil evolved into a major player in oil and gas exploration and subsequently merged with Standard Oil of New Jersey to create Exxon, which is now part of ExxonMobil.
Frank’s brother, Ross S. Sterling, held the role of Humble Oil’s inaugural president before serving as Governor of Texas. Their sister, Florence Sterling, fulfilled the duties of Corporate Secretary for Humble Oil.
Family
- Frank and Isla Sterling
Frank Sterling was married to Isla Randa Carroll (born 1885), who hailed from Temple, Texas. In 1925, they commissioned architect John Staub to design a home in Houston’s prestigious Broadacres neighborhood. The residence, known as the Sterling Mansion, was gifted to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts in 1948. It changed hands to Gus Wortham in 1951 and was ultimately donated to the University of Houston to serve as the official residence for the university president.
- Carroll Sterling
Their daughter, Carroll Sterling, entered into marriage with Bert F. Winston during the early 1930s; they had two children together. Following her divorce from Winston, Carroll married John Cowan until his passing around 1950. Later, she wed Harris Masterson III; the couple constructed the "Rienzi" mansion, which was eventually bequeathed to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts after their deaths.
Carroll’s daughter, Isla Sterling Carroll Winston, married entrepreneur Thomas Radcliffe Reckling III in 1957. They have eight children who remain actively involved in supporting "Rienzi" and its functions within the museum.
See also
External links
- Sterling-Turner Foundation — of Ms. Isla Carroll Sterling Turner.