Funeral services for Llewellyn O. “Lew” Ward, III will be 11:00am Thursday, March 24, 2016 at First United Methodist Church, Reverend Randy Mitchell officiating. A private family burial will precede the service. Visitation with family and friends will be 5:00-7:00pm Wednesday, March 23, 2016 in the Chapel of Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home.
Lew was born July 24, 1930 in Oklahoma City to Llewellyn O .Ward, II and Addie Agnes (Reisdorph) Ward and passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016 in Enid at the age of 85 years, with his family by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Lynn Hofacket.
Lew is survived by his wife Myra, daughter, Casidy Ward of Carefree, AZ; son, Bill Ward and wife. Avis, of Ft. Collins, CO; three grandchildren, Beau Ward (Jenny) of Windsor, CO; Evan Ward (Paige) of Edmond, OK; Cooper Ward of Ft. Collins, CO; five great-grandchildren, Alexandria Ward; Paisley Ward; Bodi Ward; Piper Ward and Olivia Ward as well as sister, Margaret Taylor (Irby) of Norman, OK.
Lew graduated in 1950 from the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore and from the University of Oklahoma in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. Ward was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Ward served during the Korean War with the United States Army in Okinawa, Japan. On October 29, 1955, Lew married Myra Beth Gungoll in Enid. The next year he formed Ward-Gungoll Oil with his father-in-law, Carl Gungoll. In 1963, Lew drilled his first well and began the business that became Ward Petroleum Corporation. He loved the energy exploration industry. He was a member of the International Society of Energy Advocates, he served as Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and as President of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association. Lew was a founder and board member of Sarkey’s Energy Center and served on the boards of the National Petroleum Council and the College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. In 1999, he received the Lone Star Steel Chief Roughneck Award for lifetime achievement in the oil and gas industry. In 1996, Lew was named Energy Leader of the Year by the National Association of Royalty Owners. He was inducted in the University Of Oklahoma College Of Engineering Distinguished Graduates Society and he received a Distinguished Alumni Award for life achievements as an alumni of the Oklahoma Military Academy. He was a registered professional engineer and a graduate of the Owner/President Management Program at Harvard University
Lew believed in service to his community, state and nation. He served on the Board of Pepperdine University, the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, the Nature Conservancy and the President’s Advisory Committee to the Arts of the John F. Kennedy Center, and was a member of the National Committee for the Performing Arts. Ward was Past-President of the Enid Rotary Club, American Business Club, Enid Noon AMBUCS and Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, and was a 32nd Degree Mason.
As a result of these activities, Lew was Greater Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year in 1998 and Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2006. Also in 2006, he was presented the Governor’s Arts Award and inducted into Enid Public School Foundation Hall of Fame in 2007., In 2007, the American Oil and Gas Historical Society presented him with the Oil Patch Preservationist Award and that same year, was recipient of the City of Enid Pillar of the Plains Award. The University of Oklahoma recently presented Lew with the Trailblazer Award. In November 2010, Lew was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He was named the Ronald Reagan Award recipient by the Oklahoma Republican Party where he served as a National Republican Committeeman from Oklahoma. In December 2013, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits. Lew and Myra Ward were Signature Grant Donors to Enid Public School Foundation.
Two of his most recent passions were the Entrepreneurial Leadership Seminar at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Enid, OK and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Lew wanted to emphasize the entrepreneurial nature of the land run and the successful businesses that resulted from it.
Lew was a member of Sooner Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church. He was a private pilot both fixed wing and helicopter. He enjoyed golf, reading non-fiction, the Enid Symphony Orchestra, the Gaslight Theater, and spending time with his family. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, his family has requested memorial contributions be given to the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center with Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home, 601 W. Broadway, Enid, OK 73701, acting as custodian of the fund.
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