Alpha Tau Omega - University of Oklahoma

G rowing up in Oklahoma City surrounded by oil wells, Thomas N. Ambrose '47 quickly developed an interest in natural resources. This attracted him to the University of Oklahoma, which has one of the oldest petroleum geology schools in the U.S. Tom pledged Delta Kappa, founded in 1921, believing it would remain active in the years to come. "I always look at the long term in everything I do," Tom said, "including choosing this brotherhood, which continues today." Through Alpha Tau Omega, Tom found both friend- ships and connections that led him to a successful life and international career in the oil industry. Tom was drafted and served for two years during World War II, but the war drew to a close as his training ended—thus he was not sent to Europe. Following his service he earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum geology from OU, followed by a master's in geology from Rutgers University. His master's studies included field work in the Catskills and the famous Palisades of the Hudson River. In his early career, Tom was fortunate to work as a geologist in Indonesia for an ATW brother from SMU, Roy Huffington, Delta Epsilon '35. He believes their fraternity connection helped him land the job, despite a 12-year difference in initiations. "That expe- rience showed me that connections between ATWs can be lasting and helpful." Roy later became a U.S. ambassador to Austria and was also a major ATW donor. Tom, 91, worked a total of 40 years in international oil exploration before retiring to Florida, traveling to locales such as Singapore, Trinidad, Tobago, Colombia, and Ecuador. His proudest profes- sional achievement is finding oil many different areas. "I found oil in Cuba, in the deepest well ever drilled there," he recalls. "It wasn't commercial, but it was oil." While living in pre-Castro Ha- vana in 1958, he helped organize an ATW alumni club of about 10 brothers, in which they had great social events at the famous Cuban nightclubs of the time. His company was nationalized following the Cuban revolution, and he headed back to the U.S. with his wife, Tho- ra, and daughter, Natalie. His son, Serge, graduated from high school in Singapore, where they lived in the 1980s. While Tom's visits to Delta Kappa have been less frequent due to distance, he maintains a strong rela- tionship with the chapter. He last visited the house in 2015 and declared it a "100% improvement" over their first house on Jenkins Avenue. "The ac- tive chapter is one of the best, if not the best, on campus today." Tom continues to be a strong Delta Kappa support- er, having owned ATW bonds and contributed to the DK housing fund, and he will soon have a memory pavestone at the house. He has fond memories of the Bowery Ball, an annual costume party held at the old house, as well as formal dances at the student union, which included a full orchestra. To this day, Tom keeps in touch with a fellow brother, geologist, and good friend, Bill Hintze '48 of Houston, Texas. He also re- members a former Delta Kappa roommate, ROTC Lt. Richard Denner '47, who lost his life as a hero in Korea. "Best we all live for the day and hope the future brings peaceful times," Tom said. Tom and Thora live in Ocean Ridge, Fla., where they built their own house in 1990 inspired by their time in Indonesia. Tom is currently a member of both the Palm Beach chapter of the Cir- cumnavigators Club and the Explorers Club, which promotes nonprofit exploration. He has carried the EC flag to Cuba to docu- ment limestone landforms on the island, as well as Mato Grosso, Brazil—the geodesic center of South America. "We are always seeking new members with focus on scientific exploration and world travel experience." You can connect with Tom and Thora at realthora@yahoo.com. T h e EACON Fall 2018 B A L P H A T A U O M E G A • D E L T A K A P P A C H A P T E R The Life of Tom Ambrose '47 in International Oil Exploration Alumnus Shares Lifelong Devotion to Alpha Tau Omega

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