Perry K. “P.K.” Hurlbut ’40 of Midland, Texas, died on February 7, 2010. P.K. was born in 1914 in Joplin, Mo. He graduated from Mines with a degree in geological engineering. He began his career working as a geologist in the mercury mines in Terlingua, Texas, and joined the Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served five years in France and Germany with the Army Corps of Engineers and attained the rank of captain. After the war, P.K. met Pauline Katherine Walz, and they married on November 17, 1946. The couple lived in Hanover, Ill., and later moved to Miami, Okla., where P.K. worked as a geologist in several mines. While employed at Cities Service Oil Co., P.K. worked at various sites in the United States and Canada. He was the oil and gas supervisor of the Navajo Tribe in Gallup, N.M., and worked in the mining, oil and gas division of Phelps Dodge in Silver City, N.M. When he retired in 1981, P.K. and Pauline returned to Midland, Texas. He was a member of the Society of Economic Geologists. He also enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America and made sure his three sons attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a volunteer and board director of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. Pauline preceded him in death in 1991. He is survived by sons, Jack, Douglas and William; daughter, Alisa Bluth; and six grandchildren.
I met Perry in 1966 along with his son Jack, Jack and I were roommates for three semesters at UNM.
I have been trying to locate Jack since I moved to Tucson, AZ in 1980. I found Perry most interesting, especially since his father had been an undertaker, the field I found very interesting. I have been a licensed funeral director for the past 48
years. I greatly appreciate your sharing my e-mail address with Jack “Thunder thighs” and the “Graham cracker” would like to hear from him. Thank you!!