Laurie (Larry) W. Folmar was born in Goshen, Alabama on December 19, 1919. After two years' college in Edinburg, TX, where he grew up, Mr. Folmar served as an Army Air Force Pilot in the South Pacific, completing 62 combat missions and reaching the rank of Captain.

In 1944 Mr. Folmar was awarded the air medal for "meritous achievement" as pilot of a B-20 Havoc bomber in a light bombardment unit operating with the Far East Air Force. He participated in many strikes on major Japanese bases, including Hollandia, Wewak, Hansa Bay, and Aitape. These operations consisted of bombing missions against enemy airdromes and installations and attacks on enemy naval vessels.

He married Elizabeth Jane Bean, Fort Worth, in August 1943 and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1947. He was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Gamma Epsilon and belonged to the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Mr. Folmar joined Texaco Inc. in 1947 as an engineering trainee. He was elected Vice President in 1968 for production and exploration in the Eastern Hemisphere. In 1970 he was elected Senior Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors of Texaco. He also served as a director of the Arabian American Oil Company, Bahrain Petroleum Company, American Overseas Petroleum Company, and National Foreign Trade Council. He was chief negotiator with OPEC countries. He retired from Texaco in 1978 after 31 years and later was called back for temporary assistance.

Mr. Folmar served as a member and chairman of the Visiting Committee of Industry Representatives for the Petroleum Engineering College at U.T. In 1976 he was honored as Distinguished Graduate of the college.

Mr. Folmar passed away on March 26, 2007 in Austin, TX.