Dan Klinglesmith Adamson

   “Dan was a man who always made you feel like you were his favorite. But, of course, I was.” – T. Don Stacy
Dan Klinglesmith Adamson born Oct. 12, 1939 to Edith Klinglesmith and Earl Larkin Adamson, died Dec. 26, 2015. He lived a full and well-traveled life, always a man of honor and integrity. He was born in Vernon, Texas where he grew up with family friends whom he simply considered to be family … then and always. Dan graduated from Vernon High… School in 1958. He attended the University of Missouri and graduated from Southwestern University with a degree in history. During his high school and college years, Dan held several jobs including egg candling and working at the mortuary, both of which always held a fascination for his four girls. At Southwestern he met and fell in love with his beloved Diane whom he married in 1962. There he also joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and forged a lifetime of friendship with his SUEY PIG buddies.
    Diane and Dan lived in Denver for two years, where Dan taught school, before returning to Texas in early 1965 when he joined the staff of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). SPE is a professional/technical society for the drilling, exploration and production segments of the oil and gas industry. Dan served in a variety of positions including manager of the publications department, Assistant Executive Director, and General Manager. He was named Executive Director in March 1979 and continued in that capacity until his retirement in 2001. Under his leadership, SPE expanded its reach from its base of operations in the United States to become a true international organization with members, chapters and offices in the oil-producing provinces around the world. He led an aggressive program of producing meetings and exhibitions throughout the world to serve the needs of members wherever they resided. He was a tireless traveler dedicated to advancing the mission of SPE while managing the more than 100-person staff. During his leadership, the number of SPE members doubled and offices were opened and staffed in London and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in addition to the offices in Dallas and Houston. The self-effacing side of Dan’s character tended to hide the enormous amount of energy he applied to developing relationships with SPE members while always searching for ways to better serve member needs.
    Dan’s travel with SPE introduced him to cities and countries throughout the world. Of all the places he traveled, he fell most in love with London; to him it was like a second home. He loved the city’s history, Chartwell, Wesley’s Chapel, stinky cheese shops, and, of course, his Double Devon toffee. Most of all though, he loved sharing London with family and friends. Visiting many of the same sites multiple times, he never lost the excitement, energy, and passion he felt for London.
    After retiring in 2001, Dan sought to spend much of his time at his beloved farm in Van Alstyne, TX where he was truly in his element. He loved riding his tractor, making up scavenger hunts for grandkids, visiting with friends at the Donut Chef, and being a part of the Sojourners ministry at Van Alstyne United Methodist Church. Driving for Meals on Wheels was one of his favorite activities in the Van Alstyne community, and he and Diane continued this until the last years of their lives.
    Dan had a humble and giving heart. He was forever proud of his eight grandchildren whom he cherished beyond measure. On Christmas Day, he shared a quote with family from his Leaves of Gold calendar. It touched his heart and will forever be in ours. “If you study the history of Christ’s ministry you discover that it is mostly made up of little words, little deeds, little prayers, little sympathies, adding themselves together in unwearied succession. The completed beauty of Christ’s life is only the sum total of little inconspicuous acts of love.” – Charles Henry Parkhurst
    Dan was preceded in death by his treasured wife Diane Pope Adamson and is survived by his adoring four daughters, Larkin (Greg) Bryant, Rebecca Schatzle, Amy (Kirk) Anderson, and Sarah (Jeffrey) Kellar; and grandchildren: Hunter and Kendall Schatzle; Elliott Adamson “Teddy”, John Jameson “Jack”, and William Travis “Will” Bryant; Lucas Asbury and Gabriella Bliss Kellar; and Norris Joseph Anderson; his brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Paul and Lydia Pope and Mary and Jay Coslett; nieces and nephews he loved as his own, and numerous friends and colleagues from around the globe.
    There will be a memorial service on Monday, Jan. 4 at 1p.m. at University Park United Methodist Church (4024 Caruth Blvd, Dallas, TX 75225). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to CitySquare (www.citysquare.org/), The Southwestern Fund at Southwestern University (southwestern.edu/su_blogs/swfund), or to the charity of choice.
Services are under the direction of Scoggins Funeral Home & Crematory, 637 W. Van Alstyne, Pkwy. Van Alstyne, TX; 75495. 903.482.5225 you may sign the online register book at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com