Tommy Gene Bogle

Tommy Gene (Tom) Bogle (October 16, 1930 – April 29, 2015)

Tommy Gene Bogle passed away peacefully on the morning of April 29th listening to Willie Nelson sing of being “on the road again.” He is preceded in death by his beloved mother and father, Tom and Louise Bogle of Ft. Worth, Texas, and grandson Benjamin Breef. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, DeLois Marie Dobbs Bogle, his children Thomas Bogle and wife Norma, Stephen Bogle and wife Jan, and Peggy Bogle Breef and husband Jim, his grandchildren, Olivia Breef, Caitlin and Cooper Nance, Robert Bogle and Axsel Bogle, great granddaughters Bailey and Paige Nance, brother Bill F. Bogle and wife Ann, plus numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends and sidekicks Jimmie Eschberger, and Roberto Portales. All will miss his wonderful stories, jokes, adventures, inventions and songs.

One of Tommy's favorite songs was “Waiting For a Train” by Jimmie Rodgers, A line from that song is “He walked up to the brakeman, just to give him a line of talk.” Tommy Bogle had a “line of talk” for every purpose, occasion, or endeavor. After graduating from Pascal High School in Fort Worth and a stint in the U.S. Navy, Tommy studied statistics, philosophy and literature at Texas Christian University. Tommy used his line of talk to gain employment with General Dynamics applying his knowledge of statistics to the non-destructive testing of wing-panels. He continued in the aviation field becoming Assistant Chief of Laboratories at Tempco Aircraft. His line of talk served him well when he met several oilmen and began a career in oil field services. He formed his first company, International Inspection, Inc., applying his knowledge of ultrasonic testing to oil field pipe. He later joined Tuboscope where he was Vice-President of Sales, and traveled the world. He continued his line of talk to open his own firms – PSI Inc., Houston International Inc , and finally his last venture, Tanknology Inc., an environmental service company prospering today, and for which he was honored as 1991 Entrepreneur of the Year, and 1992 High Tech Entrepreneur. Tommy was also an inventor and the author of several patents. He spent his last years managing his beloved Cedar B Ranch in Paige, Texas.

It is difficult to sum up a man's life in a few words with just a string of facts or accomplishments. Tommy was so much more than that, but this story was typical of Tommy. While in Port Aransas, he noticed an old man who picked up cans along the side of a road every day, so he made a special trip early in the morning to put out a few cans for the man and one of them had a $100 bill attached with a rubber band. He was generous to all he met, picking up hitchhikers, helping those in trouble, finding jobs for those in need, and making donations to many, many organizations. His story telling ability was legendary with even total strangers stopping to listen.

His favorite quote was from Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.” Tom had the intellect to recognize these tides, and the courage to take them at the flood. He has now taken that last earthly tide to complete the voyage of his life, a voyage that has blessed so many others.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Houston Salvation Army will be welcomed.

A Celebration of Tom's Life will be held 10:00 AM Monday, May 4, 2015, Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home