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Glenwood and the Oilfield

Please note that advance registration is required for this free online program. Scroll down or click here to register.

Please note that the date of this program has changed to Saturday, September 25.

Houston’s history has deep ties to the oilfield, so it’s no surprise that the lives of many Houstonians buried at historic Glenwood Cemetery involve oil. Learn more about these larger-than-life figures during an online program at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 25, featuring Preservation Houston Programs Director Jim Parsons and Glenwood Cemetery Executive Director Richard Ambrus.

In his illustrated talk, Parsons will discuss the lives and careers of famed Houston oilmen such as Ross Sterling, a co-founder of Humble Oil (later ExxonMobil); Joseph Cullinan, a pioneer in Texas oil who launched the Texas Company (later Texaco); and flamboyant wildcatter Glenn McCarthy, who became synonymous with mid-century Lone Star oil wealth. Attendees will also learn about plans for the future of Glenwood, one of the nation’s outstanding garden cemeteries, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2021. A Q&A with the presenter will follow the program.


Event format

This program will be presented via Zoom. Registrants will receive additional information, including a link to join the program, no later than the afternoon of September 24.


Registration and pricing

Access to this program is free of charge. Advance registration is required. Sign up by noon Friday, September 24.

Can’t join us live? No problem

We will make a recording of the full program available to all registrants, so you can watch at a time that’s most convenient for you.


This event is presented as part of the Bart Truxillo Program Series, which honors the memory of pioneer preservationist and Preservation Houston co-founder Bart Truxillo. The Truxillo Program Series is made possible by the generous contributions of Preservation Houston's members and friends. If you would like to support future programming, please consider making a donation in support of the series or becoming a PH member.