Edward Flaxbart (BS ’49, Petroleum Engineering), and his wife, Evelyn M. Flaxbart (BA ’86, History), established deep roots in Tulsa, generously giving of their time, energy, and talents to benefit The University of Tulsa.
Ed was born in 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended one semester of college before enlisting in 1943 in the United States Army for service in World War II. After Flaxbart completed boot camp, at that time called the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), he was assigned to the First Infantry Division, 16th Regiment. Ed spent time in the Hurtgen Forest, participated in the capture of Aachen, and suffered frostbite during the Battle of the Bulge in January 1945. He earned a Purple Heart for his heroic service.
After the war, Ed completed his education at TU, graduating in 1949 with a degree in chemical engineering. He began his career with Western Supply Company in Tulsa. He successfully climbed the company ladder to eventually serve as the President of Western Supply. In 1970, Ed was instrumental in the founding of Tulsa-based Hughes Anderson Engineering Corporation. Hughes Anderson grew into a major manufacturer of shell and tube heat exchangers for the refining industry. Flaxbart was named the President of Hughes Anderson in 1984, leading the company until his retirement in 1993.
Ed was active in industry trade associations, and at one point he served as the President of the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association (TEMA). In this role, Flaxbart drew on his education and experience to help develop and write key industry standards.
Meanwhile, Ed had married Evelyn Mentemeyer in 1958. Evelyn was born in 1927 in Centralia, Illinois. After graduating from high school in her hometown, Evelyn moved to Tulsa with Shell Oil Company in 1950. She and Ed raised two children, son David, who earned his degree from TU in 1983, and daughter Susan. As longtime members of Grace Lutheran Church, the Flaxbarts lived a life full of purpose and giving.
Ed and Evelyn became friends with TU President Emeritus Ben Henneke, joining one of his educational tours of Italy. Evelyn so enjoyed learning about the Italian Renaissance that she decided to return to TU to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1986.
Ed and Evelyn were a talented and cultured couple, serving as founding members of the Tulsa Oratorio chorus. They rehearsed on Monday evenings on the TU campus, and they sang together in many concerts. They also were patrons of the arts, enjoying many symphony, opera, and theater performances.
The Flaxbarts enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with TU, supporting many areas of the university, including the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the Golden Hurricane Club, KWGS, Gilcrease Museum, student scholarships, building funds, a Chemical Engineering Graduate Fellowship, and the Henneke Heritage Committee of the TU Alumni Association.
Ed was actively involved in the TU Alumni Association, serving as chairman of the association’s Heritage Committee in 2003. Ed was inducted into the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences Hall of Fame in 1994, and both Ed and Evelyn have been recognized as members of the Circle Society, the President’s Council, and the Chapman Legacy Society for their loyalty and generosity.
Evelyn passed away in 2003 and Ed in 2012, and they left three generous estate gifts to their alma mater: The Ed Flaxbart Fund for the Heritage Committee of the TU Alumni Association, the Ed Flaxbart General Scholarship Fund, and the Ed Flaxbart Fund for the Department of Chemical Engineering. The chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering (now known as the Russell School of Chemical Engineering) chose to endow the Flaxbarts’ important gift to the program, and this quasi-endowment fund is now known as the Edward Flaxbart Quasi-Endowment Fund for the Department of Chemical Engineering.
The TU family appreciates this philanthropic couple, who recognized the importance of a quality education to a fulfilling life.
