HUFFINES, DONALD F.

Donald Huffhines
1929-2000

Donald F. Huffhines was born December 9, 1929, and died November 18, 2000. During World War II his father, J.C., worked as a government inspector for Guiberson Motors, the company holding the contract for installing motors in tanks for the U.S. Army. With his parents, Don spent time living on army bases in Texas, including a one-year assignment in Brownwood. A typical boy, he was always busy and interested in everything from bugs to flying. One of his fondest memo-ries was when his father occasionally took him on an assignment and for a ride in an army tank. His collection of live horned frogs was a prime example of his love for the outdoors and all living creatures. In-sisting they remain in a “natural environ-ment,” his mother kept the frogs in their Victory Garden to help control and eat garden ants.

Don began working when he was nine years old on both of his grandfathers’ farms. He graduated from Richardson High School in 1947 and continued work-ing to put himself through college. He graduated from North Texas Agricultural College (a branch of A&M in Arlington), where he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps. He then continued his education at the SMU School of Engineering, where he joined their co-op program, working with Magnolia Oil Company, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, graduating with honors.

Donald F. Huffhines U.S. model National Airplane Contest – First Place, 1949

Whatever he did in life – work or play – he did to the fullest. Always interested in fly-ing and model airplanes, at age nineteen he won his first trophy from the U. S. Navy for building a model airplane. As part of the prize, he and a friend flew on a military plane and spent time “camping out” in the barracks at the naval base.

In 1962, Don directed the efforts of North Texas Amateur Boat Racing Association toward the successful promotion of the first World Championship Amateur Pleas-ure Boat Races at Lake Lewisville (in north Texas). He designed and built his own boat that he raced for many years and used recreationally with his family and his children’s friends.

Over the next twenty years he and his team members traveled worldwide for Magnolia Oil (now Exxon Mobil). They developed and assisted in the implementa-tion of many technological advances in oil exploration. Don was responsible for the invention of many U.S. patents held in the name of Mobil Oil.

During the last ten years of his life, before his first stroke, Don was actively involved in the Lone Star Squadron and North Dal-las Radio Control Club. He was instru-mental in the club’s sponsorship of an an-nual picnic for the Buckner Children’s Home at the flying field. Even as his health prevented him from being active and participating in many of the things he loved, he remained an avid sports fan – never missing a Dallas Cowboys football game.

Don is survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Shearer Lee Holbert (married July 10, 1951); his son Donald F. Huffhines, Jr., born July 14, 1953; and daughter, Lee Huffhines, born April 16, 1957.