George P. Mitchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George P. Mitchell
|
|
|---|---|
Mitchell in 2011
|
|
| Born | May 21, 1919 |
| Died | July 26, 2013 (aged 94) Tremont House, Galveston, Texas, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University |
| Occupation | Founder of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp.; philanthropist |
| Years active | 1950s–1990s |
| Known for | Hydraulic fracturing pioneer, developer of The Woodlands, Galveston restoration, philanthropic support of sustainability |
| Spouse(s) | Cynthia Woods Mitchell |
| Children | 10 |
George Phydias Mitchell (born May 21, 1919 – died July 26, 2013) was a smart American businessman. He was also a real estate developer and a generous giver (philanthropist) from Texas. People remember him for finding new ways to get natural gas from shale rock at a good price. This method changed the energy world!
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Mitchell was born in 1919 in Galveston, Texas. His parents were immigrants from Greece. His father, Savvas Paraskevopoulos, came to the U.S. in 1901. He worked for railroads and later ran shoe-shining shops in Galveston.
In 1940, George graduated from Texas A&M University. He studied petroleum engineering, which is about finding and drilling for oil and gas. He was the best student in his class and also captain of the tennis team.
Oil and Gas Business
After college, George Mitchell started his own company, Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. This company grew very big, even becoming a Fortune 500 company. He helped drill about 10,000 oil and gas wells. More than 1,000 of these were "wildcat wells," which means they were drilled in new, unexplored areas.
Pioneering Shale Gas
In the 1980s and 1990s, his company tried new ways to get natural gas from a type of rock called Barnett Shale in Texas. They experimented with different methods of hydraulic fracturing, often called "fracking."
Fracking is a process where water, sand, and chemicals are pumped into the ground at high pressure. This creates tiny cracks in the rock, allowing natural gas to flow out. After many tries, Mitchell's team found the right way to do it cheaply and effectively.
This new technique was a huge success! Other companies quickly started using it. It led to a big increase in natural gas production in North America. Because of his work, George Mitchell is known as the "pioneer of shale." His company was later bought by Devon Energy.
Real Estate Development
George Mitchell also became a successful real estate developer. He created a planned community called The Woodlands. This area is located about 32 miles north of Houston.
He wanted to build a community that protected nature. He worked with a landscape architect to make sure trees were saved and the environment was cared for. The plan also aimed to prevent flooding and create a nice place to live. By 2010, The Woodlands was home to 97,000 people.
George and his wife, Cynthia, also helped bring new life to his hometown of Galveston. They played a big part in restoring many historic buildings there.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
George and Cynthia Mitchell were very generous. Through their Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, they gave away or promised more than $900 million to different causes.
Most of their donations went to science and projects that help the environment. They supported ideas about environmental sustainability, which means using Earth's resources wisely so there's enough for everyone in the future. Their foundation still focuses on clean energy, water, and natural gas sustainability.
In 2010, George Mitchell joined the Giving Pledge. This is a promise made by wealthy people to give most of their money to charity. He and Cynthia had always planned to do this privately.
Supporting Science and Sustainability
Mitchell was very interested in how businesses could help create a sustainable world. He helped start conferences and awards focused on sustainable development. He also gave $20 million to the National Academy of Sciences to support science that helps with sustainability.
He also founded the Houston Advanced Research Center. This center looks for ways to make regions more sustainable. He gave $25 million to support their work.
George Mitchell was a huge supporter of Texas A&M University. He donated $35 million to help the Physics department get two new buildings in 2009. These are called the George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Fundamental Physics and Astronomy Building and the George P. Mitchell Physics Building. He later gave another $20 million to the Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy.
His total donations to Texas A&M and other research groups reached almost $100 million. He also supported the university's marine studies campus, Texas A&M University at Galveston. He even donated the land for the main campus there!
George loved tennis throughout his life. The tennis center at Texas A&M University is named in his honor.
Personal Life
In 2004, Forbes magazine estimated George Mitchell's wealth at $1.6 billion. This made him one of the richest people in the world.
George Mitchell passed away on July 26, 2013, at his home in Galveston. He was 94 years old and was surrounded by his family. His wife, Cynthia, had passed away in 2009. He had ten children, 23 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
Awards and Honors
George Mitchell received many awards for his work and generosity. Some of these include:
- Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement (1978)
- Horatio Alger Award
- Honorary doctoral degree from the University of Houston (1984)
- The Galveston Daily News’ Citizen of the Year (1988)
- Master Entrepreneur of the Year (1992)
- Boy Scouts of America’s Hornaday Award for Environmental Achievement (1993)
- Texas A&M’s Aggie of the Year (1994)
- Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation (1995)
- Lifetime Achievement honoree from The Nature Conservancy of Texas (1997)
- World Future Society’s Distinguished Service Award (2000)
