Walter Andrew Drexel passed away on March 21, 2018 at the age of 87. He was born on June 20, 1930 to William Andre Drexel and Lillian Lona (Willingham) Drexel. Walter grew up on a cotton farm in Mesquite, Texas where he also graduated from Mesquite High School at the age of 17, then served proudly in the United States Navy for 5 years. He served in the Korean War. After his military service, he attended Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas and graduated in 1957, with a degree in Finance and Accounting. He married Ann Collinsworth and to this union they had a daughter Cindy and a son Greg.
He has over 30 years of experience in the financial arena working in the oil, gas and railroad industries. During his 24 years of service at Atlantic Richfield, Walter served in various executive positions including: Vice President of Tax, Vice President and Treasurer, and Senior Vice President of Planning. He then transitioned to Burlington Northern Railroad (BRN) where he served for 8 years as CEO and Chairman of the Board. Looking for a new challenge, Walter and his team left BNR to acquire Chicago Central Railroad where they brought the company to new heights before selling out to The Canadian National Railroad. Walter’s vast financial experience made him an ideal member for many high powered industrial and financial boards including: Burlington Northern Railroad Inc., Arizona and New Mexico Land Company, First National Bank of Saint Paul, M Bank of Fort Worth and Getchell Gold Company. He was instrumental in raising the 10 billion dollars capital required to build Prudhoe Bay Oil Field and Trans Alaska Pipeline located in Alaska. Upon Retirement in 1990 Walter always said he went from the ‘Cotton Patch to the Board Room’.
After retirement he moved to Fort Worth, Texas where he met his wife Connie Hollstein. They enjoyed traveling, playing tennis together, being with family, and spent many happy times in Jackson Hole, WY.
Walter enjoyed fishing and bird hunting with his family and friends. There have been many ‘fishing stories’ told, over the years. He was an avid reader. He always enjoyed visits from family and friends, helping others, his lottery tickets- even though he did not win, coaching “His Tennis Girls," and family reunions. His sister, Margie said “Walter was a very good man… but very private.”
A special thank you to his caregivers: Patricia, Ada, and Loletia who helped care for Walter over the past two and a half years.
He is survived by his loving wife, Connie Jean Hollstein-Drexel of McKinney, Texas; son, Greg Drexel and wife Carole of, Beaufort, South Carolina; daughter, Cynthia Ann Erickson and husband, Sean of Seaford, Delaware; sister, Margie Tippie of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Andrew Drexel and wife, Jessica, Jeffery Watson and family, and Jarrod Watson and family; step-daughters, Cheryl Behrmann and husband Jim , and Sheila Mitchell; step-son, David Stroope and wife Lynelle; step-grandchildren, Beth Armstrong and husband James, Melissa Mitchell, C.J. Mitchell, Frances Behrmann, Morgan Mitchell, Brooke Stroope, Emily Morvant and husband, John, Claire Behrmann, Weston Stroope and wife, Amber, Ashton Stroope, James Behrmann, and Stefan Reddick, and wife Claire; step great-grandchildren, Margo Kelso, Audrey Reddick, Reid Reddick, and William Reddick; and numerous other loving family members and friends.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian Drexel; three sisters, Faye Marie Hunter and husband, Frank, Juanita Pearl Littlepage and husband, Ray, and Billie Ruth Harkins and husband, Harold; and step-son, Bret Allen Stroope.
There will be no service at this time. A celebration of Walter’s life will be held in the future in Jackson, Wyoming. Thank you to everyone for all your continued prayers and love, Connie and family.
Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity.