Mark E. Andrews
Mark Edwin Andrews | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 1992 (aged 88) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Oil executive, government official |
| Known for | Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1948–1949), founder of Ancon Oil & Gas |
Mark Edwin Andrews (October 17, 1903 – August 22, 1992) was an American executive in the oil sector and a former official within the United States Department of the Navy. He established Ancon Oil & Gas.
Biography
A native of Houston, Andrews completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University in 1927 and later obtained a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1934. His early career involved work in the cotton industry before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1942 as a lieutenant. He quickly rose to the rank of captain and was responsible for overseeing the procurement of aircraft, engines, and naval vessels during World War II. In 1946, he was appointed chief of Navy procurement and played a key role in drafting the Armed Services Procurement Act. Under President Harry S. Truman’s administration, Andrews served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1948 to 1949, where he directed activities related to procurement, supply management, personnel, shipyard operations, oil reserves, budgeting, and financial oversight.
Following his departure from public service, Andrews purchased and restructured Dixel Manufacturing, a company specializing in oil equipment, and pursued a career as an independent oil producer. Additionally, he held presidential positions at two textile firms—Westmoreland Manufacturing and Andrews, Loop & Company—before founding Ancon Oil & Gas, which he led for three and a half decades.
Outside of his business pursuits, Andrews contributed as a part-time law educator and assumed leadership roles with organizations such as the English-Speaking Union, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. In 1966, he acquired Knappogue Castle in Ireland and worked alongside his wife Lavone Dickensheets Andrews, an accomplished architect, on its restoration. He authored multiple publications covering topics including law, his naval service, and the petroleum industry.
Andrews passed away at age 88 in Houston on August 22, 1992, following a stroke.