Hugh Hanagan

Hugh Hanagan, a truly good man from the Greatest Generation, passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2013. Hugh passed away peacefully in his home five years and one day after his wife Betty passed away.

Hugh was born on July 19, 1924 in Duncan, Oklahoma to William and Lucile OReilly Hanagan. He was the 6th of eleven children, with the only surviving sibling being Bob Hanagan of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hugh married Betty Lucille Pickens on February 12, 1954 in Midland, Texas. Betty passed away on November 9th, 2008 and Hugh never fully got over her death.
Hugh is survived by his brother Bob and his wife Nancy of Santa Fe, New Mexico, his Son Tim and his companion Gail Aalund of Durango, Colorado, Son Brian of Dallas, Texas , and Son Mike and his wife Danette of Roswell, Grandsons Hondo Hanagan and his wife Dedi of Durango, CO, Craig Hanagan and his wife Ali of Roswell, and granddaughter Megan Hanagan of Ft. Worth, Texas, Great Granddaughters Kinslee, Breleigh and Bayleigh and Grandsons Hudson and Jaxson.

Hugh graduated from Roswell High School on May 29, 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp becoming a Radar Technician and proudly served his country in the 314th Bomb Wing in the Pacific Theater during WWII. On December 16th, 1945 Hugh boarded the U.S.S. Lander and left Guam for home arriving in Camp Anzio north of Los Angeles on December 29th, 1945. He was honorably discharged at Ft. Bliss in El Paso on December 31, 1945.

After the war, Hugh attended the University of Wichita earning a degree in geology on May 30, 1949. After college, Hugh went to work for Rotary Engineering in the Golden Triangle on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico for Pauley Petroleum in 1950. After coming back from Mexico, He went to work for Phillips Petroleum Company with one of his assignments being to work on the first well drilled by Phillips in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. It was while at Phillips that Hugh met Betty, the love of his life. In 1956 Hugh left Phillips and joined Kewanee Oil Company in Midland. Hugh then partnered with his brother and lifelong best friend Bob to form a successful Roswell based oil and gas company, a partnership that lasted over 30 years. One of their major achievements was the discovery and development of the Catclaw Draw Field in Eddy County.

Hugh was a great father and husband, but more importantly, he was an extremely kind and gentle man a very good man with a huge heart and a great laugh.

Special thanks go out to Hughs care givers, especially Amy and Crystal who helped make his last days as comfortable as possible. A private graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your charity of choice.