Page 1

^{ALL ABOUT US}

SIGNIFICANT FACTS ABOUT DEGOLYER

EVERETTE LEE DEGOLYER

1886-1956

DeGolyer Elementary School is named after Everette Lee DeGolyer (1886-1956) for his outstanding contributions to science, education and community.

He began his career as a geologist in Mexico, where he struck oil at the age of 24. He invested his oil profits in Geophysical Services Incorporated (GSI). GSI developed techniques for oil detection that revolutionized the oil industry. GSI later became Texas Instruments. Mr. DeGolyer also founded Degolyer/ MacNaughton. the leading petroleum consulting firm in the world today, and one or our most valued corporate sponsors. In 1939-1940, Mr. DeGolyer and his wife Nell built the now famous DeGolyer estate which remains a cultural Dallas landmark.

DeGolyer Elementary School first opened in 1959 but closed in 1982 due to a dwindling student population. In the spring of 1994, the DISD Board of Trustees recommended the re-opening of DeGolyer. Thelma Lott Jones was named principal. In the time since the school re-opened, DeGolyer has been the only neighborhood school out of over 200 such schools in the district to consistently achieve either an "exemplary" or a "recognized" rating. We think Mr. DeGolyer would have been proud.

FAMOUS SCULPTOR RETURNS

TO VIEW HIS WORK

Recently, Mr. Renato Mazzo came to DeGolyer to visit us and the bust of Mr. DeGolyer in the lobby which he created over 50 years ago. Mr. Mazzo was born in Rome, Italy and started making things from wood and cotton when he was a little boy.

Mr. DeGolyer made four visits to Mr. Mazzo's studio. After that Mr. Mazzo spent 20 months finishing his work. The bust of Mr. DeGolyer started off as a lump of clay. This was covered with a coat of wax. Then he covered the sculpture with sand with tubes leading to the bust. Melted bronze went through the tubes and covered Mr. DeGolyer. Finally the wax inside melted and the clay structure fell out.

Mr. Mazzo has created sculpture in many places, including Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Egypt, Boston, New York, Oklahoma, Chicago and Dallas.

Before the bronze dried, Mr. Mazzo carved his name and the date on the back of the finished bust. If you look closely you can see it today!

It was a real thrill meeting Mr. Mazzo. We have always loved the bust of Mr. DeGolyer but it means much more to us now that we know it's history and have met the man who created it.

THANKS, MR MAZZO FOR YOUR VISIT!!!!

REPORTERS--SHELBY, JOANIE