Jean Shepherd

Shepherd given top award by refinery

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BAYTOWN - Jean Shepherd was awarded the 2002 Refiner of the Year at the Goose Creek Country Club on Tuesday.

Surrounded by nearly 400 people from the Baytown-area, Shepherd received the award, now in its 16th year.
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Three sentences into his description of Shepherd, and most of the audience knew who was this year's winner.

"Soon after arriving (in Baytown), she and her husband built a home in the Brownwood community, and her life of community service was launched from there," Brown said.

Seated near the entrance toward the back of the large room was Shepherd, who stared out in surprise.

"(Shepherd) is a genuine friend of Baytown and ExxonMobil and has made numerous lasting contributions to our community," Brown said."Her enthusiasm for Baytown and efforts to cause Baytown to believe and think well of itself are infectious."

Shepherd was the citizen who, with almost near-singlehandedness, was responsible for bringing national significance to the definition of land subsidence.

That is, when the landscape of upper-end homes in Brownwood began to sink in the Crystal and Scott Bays, Shepherd fought back - working to explain the effects of mass ground water retrieval - and took the argument all the way to the U.S. Congress during the 1970s.
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To receive the award, Shepherd was selected from a list of nominees originally presented by the public affairs staff at the six Baytown-area facilities, then finalized in a selection by plant managers Brown, Stephane de Mahieu and Bob Bailes.
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"I think it was appropriate Jean was selected," said 1990 Refiner of the Year Fritz Lanhan."She's been doing this community work for so long."

Shepherd is a former member of the board of directors for the Texas Historical Commission, and is the co-founder of the Bay Area Heritage Society and was the volunteer director of the Baytown Historical Museum.She has helped to publish Baytown area history books, and has a scholarship in her name at Lee College.

But, as Brown read off Shepherd's accomplishments, there was little dogma - as both elbowed over the sincere, yet awkward nature that attended the formal party setting.

Speaking of Shepherd's so-called retirement from her director position at the museum and from the Heritage Society, Brown stopped himself mid-speech.

"Yeah, you and retirement!"he said.
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"It's like me being speechless," said Shepherd, which tossed the audience to laughter.

Despite several digs at her own talkative nature, Shepherd kept her award speech down to a couple of sentences.

"This is a real thrill," Shepherd said."Doing something you love and to be honored like this is - something."

Balanced atop Shepherd's head like a refiner's tiara was a large white hardhat.

"When I came in 1950, I witnessed your 'humble' beginnings," said Shepherd."I've seen the smoke turn to steam, and I've loved every minute of it."

With those words, Shepherd now prepares for her move to Paris, Texas, within the next few weeks.She will make the move to be closer to family.

And, Shepherd will be missed.

In acknowledgments, the author thanked Jean Shepherd for her research assistance.Jean, who years later would play a key role in creating the Baytown Historical Museum, was the keeper of deeds and documents for Christ Church and, according to Johnston, a "stimulating companion from the early months of the research task."

"I thought the tunnel was a novel thing, being under the Ship Channel," said Jean Shepherd of the Bay Area Heritage Society.

For Shepherd, the Hartman Bridge feels unsteady when the wind picks up.Shepherd also said she questions the bridge's ability to function as an evacuation route during a hurricane.Especially because the bridge closes down during hurricane winds.

"It didn't escape any of those problems," Shepherd said.