Mr. Michael Terry "Mike" Wilhite

A celebration service honoring Mike Wilhite, age 73 of Henderson, Texas will be held at First Baptist Church at 2 p.m., Thursday, November 19, 2015 with Dr. David Higgs officiating. Mike was born August 19, 1942 in Houston, Texas to LeRoy and Celia Rush Wilhite. Mike was preceded in death by his parents. Mike graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1960, and after a one year stint playing football at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas, headed to Nacogdoches, Texas to attend Stephen F. Austin State University on a football scholarship. While at SFA, Mike met the love of his life, Mary Jane Bryce of Henderson, and they were married on January 24, 1964. Both graduated from SFA in 1965 and earned their Masters Degree in Education in 1968. Upon graduation, Mike and Jane headed to Henderson, where he began his career teaching biology and coaching football at Henderson High School. In 1970, Mike went to work at Henderson Clay Products, Inc. where he started learning the brick manufacturing business. With the onset of the energy crisis in 1970, Henderson Clay was forced to start searching for sources of natural gas to cook the brick, and Mike was charged with learning the oil and gas business to insure the survival of the company. Through hard work and determination he became Vice President of the Oil & Gas division of the company, and in 1985 he played an instrumental role in the negotiation and sale of the company’s extensive oil and gas assets to ARCO. Fueled with his vision and ambition, he formed Mustang Drilling, Inc. with long time friend, Bob Slover. His ambition, determination and at times shear will created the Mustang legacy that continues today. When Mike was in his 40’s, he learned to team rope. For a man who had never been on a horse, he spent the next 25 years going to team ropings and hosting “practice sessions” in his outdoor arena. When he started having knee problems, he took up golf and pursued learning the game with a relentless and fierce drive. There are men on the PGA tour who have not hit as many balls or took as many lessons as him. In recent years, Mike took up woodworking, a hobby which he loved since childhood. He loved working with machines and working with wood. Mike was always searching for new and interesting wood, especially those with some known history. Mike also had a love for old cars. He and close friend, Henry Truelock, through much trial and error, fully restored numerous cars from the 1950’s. Since the time Mike graduated from SFA, he always held a special love for the school. He served many years on the SFA Alumni Board, and from 1999-2005, he served the school on the Board of Regents. While he believed in the school and education, there was nothing more special to him that the Lumberjack football team. The head coach had no more ardent supporter than Mike - even in the midst of a down season. Of all that Mike accomplished in his life he found his greatest joy and sense of pride in his family. First with the love of his life, Jane then later though raising Lee Ann and Michael. Mike found renewed sense of task with the introduction of grandchildren into his life. Always seeking any excuse to find a way to see them and to spend time with them. To Mike they were his second chance to make up for the times missed in raising his own children due to long hours in the oilfield. They traveled together and made countless trips to the farm. He was always ready at a moments notice to take advantage of a “teaching” moment. With the loss of Mike, there will be a huge hole left in the lives of his family and friends, but we will be left with a heritage that will continue always. Committed husband, loving father, dedicated family man, Mike is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Jane Bryce Wilhite, daughter Lee Ann Mills and her husband Andrew Douglas Mills of Henderson, son Michael Terry Wilhite, Jr. and his wife Dr. Laurie Edmiston Wilhite of Dallas; three grandchildren Harrison Andrew Mills, John Michael Mills, Mary Ann-Frances Mills of Henderson; sister, Darnell Price of Houston, brother John Wilhite and wife Debbie of Desoto, and brother Ken Wilhite of Marshall. Honorary pallbearers will be Pedro Ramirez, Bob Slover, Henry Truelock, Gaylord Hughey, Jimmy Murphy, Doug Mills, Roy Pace, Scott Crawford, John Jones, and Jimmy McMillin. Memorial contributions may be made to any of the following: UT Health Science Center - Research of Pulmonary Disease, UT Health Northeast, 11937 US Hwy 271, Tyler, Texas 75708 First Baptist Church of Henderson - 207 W. Main Street, Henderson, Texas 75652 Boys and Girls Club of Henderson - 710 Robertson Blvd, Henderson, Texas 75652 Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. Michael Terry "Mike" Wilhite

August 19, 1942 - November 15, 2015